Developing a new chiller. Would love some feedback.

[DeWittTheReefer]

Hello all. Would love your feedback. We're attempting... we're going to create a chiller that's smaller, cheaper, easily self-maintained/repaired, and more energy efficient than the units that are currently dominating the market. I've gotten a lot of very helpful feedback from local reefers, but you can never have too much insight into the needs of people as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to list a couple broad questions, and if you'll feel so inclined to answer any, I'd be ever so grateful. Really appreciate your time, and I hope you're all well.

- Do you currently use a chiller? Why or why not? (Cost, need, size, etc.)

- What features would be most helpful for you?

Also, please feel free to ask any more specific questions you might have. But, keep in mind, with a patent thats not yet been approved, I'm somewhat limited in regard to what I can disclose. :)

Thank you all again!!

 

[TaylorJames]

I plan to get one but im worried about how much heat it will throw off. They are also large/bulky/inefficient.

 

[Peace River]

Hello all. Would love your feedback. We're attempting... we're going to create a chiller that's smaller, cheaper, easily self-maintained/repaired, and more energy efficient than the units that are currently dominating the market. I've gotten a lot of very helpful feedback from local reefers, but you can never have too much insight into the needs of people as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to list a couple broad questions, and if you'll feel so inclined to answer any, I'd be ever so grateful. Really appreciate your time, and I hope you're all well.

- Do you currently use a chiller? Why or why not? (Cost, need, size, etc.)

- What features would be most helpful for you?

Also, please feel free to ask any more specific questions you might have. But, keep in mind, with a patent thats not yet been approved, I'm somewhat limited in regard to what I can disclose. :)

Thank you all again!!

I am most concerned about power consumption/efficiency and heat output. I would like to use a chiller to expand the species of fish that I could work with, trigger breeding, etc., but the chiller that I have now is not practical (in my opinion) to run. Good luck!

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

Hello all. Would love your feedback. We're attempting... we're going to create a chiller that's smaller, cheaper, easily self-maintained/repaired, and more energy efficient than the units that are currently dominating the market. I've gotten a lot of very helpful feedback from local reefers, but you can never have too much insight into the needs of people as far as I'm concerned. I'm going to list a couple broad questions, and if you'll feel so inclined to answer any, I'd be ever so grateful. Really appreciate your time, and I hope you're all well.

- Do you currently use a chiller? Why or why not? (Cost, need, size, etc.)

- What features would be most helpful for you?

Also, please feel free to ask any more specific questions you might have. But, keep in mind, with a patent thats not yet been approved, I'm somewhat limited in regard to what I can disclose. :)

Thank you all again!!

I'm running two chillers, first one 1/15hp, then before weather got hotter (Socal,118° at times) add 1/4hp, for total of 40 gallons at 71-73°. In storage have 1/2hp & another 1/4hp as reserve.
Why? NPS corals. Could increase temp. to 75-78° happy with present temp.
Of all chillers purchased, I would go with coralife. Lightweight, I think at one point they were using rotary compressors instead of reciprocating compressors which are heavier.

What features?
1. Temperature control separate, like Ranco, to service easier
2. An inexpensive condenser motor, like 60's refrigerators, some Chillers have this design easier to locate the part.
3 Heater control that is part of the Ranco controller
4. Have a schematic for future service many chillers do not have this
5. Design it with parts that will be available for 60 years weather from you or a different source
6. If possible have a chiller with a titanium heat exchanger or drop in titanium coils. So there would be two different chillers you would sell.
DIY CHILLER, FROM WINDOW AC

 

[agv180]

I have a question, if it is possible to use a stainless steel coil chiller. there would be no risk of corrosion?

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

I have a question, if it is possible to use a stainless steel coil chiller. there would be no risk of corrosion?

Speaking for my self, marine SS 316, may work, I haven't tried it. As a drop in coil, like picture above.

 

[Tastee]

I run a Hailea 150A for my 65g tank. I am based in Sydney Australia so need it around 6-8 months of the year. Mine is housed in the stand of my RSR 250.

Features I would like is controllability by my Apex and an external temperature probe so I can tell if I need to vent the stand more than the current design does statically.

 

[Hemmdog]

I'm running two chillers, first one 1/15hp, then before weather got hotter (Socal,118° at times) add 1/4hp, for total of 40 gallons at 71-73°. In storage have 1/2hp & another 1/4hp as reserve.
Why? NPS corals. Could increase temp. to 75-78° happy with present temp.
Of all chillers purchased, I would go with coralife. Lightweight, I think at one point they were using rotary compressors instead of reciprocating compressors which are heavier.

What features?
1. Temperature control separate, like Ranco, to service easier
2. An inexpensive condenser motor, like 60's refrigerators, some Chillers have this design easier to locate the part.
3 Heater control that is part of the Ranco controller
4. Have a schematic for future service many chillers do not have this
5. Design it with parts that will be available for 60 years weather from you or a different source
6. If possible have a chiller with a titanium heat exchanger or drop in titanium coils. So there would be two different chillers you would sell.
DIY CHILLER, FROM WINDOW AC

Pics like these are a fast track to being on a watchlist kids lol

I do support your ingenuity though @Jomama hahaha

 

[ca1ore]

I do use a chiller (Tradewinds 3/4HP) because I've too much $$ sunk into livestock …….

The main issue with most chillers is the heat they throw off. I locate mine outside, but many people cannot which makes them somewhat counterproductive. Even the ones that use a drop in titanium element means temperature loss along the tubing that connects the cooling cold to the compressor. I'm moving to a well-water cooled system this year, but absent that a more efficient chiller would be welcome.

 

[Saveafish]

With chillers. One watt of power used to pull heat is 1 watt of heat produced. Plus the temp pulled from the tank. The only true efficiency way is geo-thermal style OR with maybe a pilfer style exchanger.

 

[Dr. Dendrostein]

chillers are like batteries unfortunately the technology is still 1930s hasn't changed since then. Unfortunately our display tanks and the environment surrounding them builds up a certain amount of heat and the chiller needs to get rid of that Heat. I can't see a major breakthrough in efficiency in chillers, not in our lifetime unless they use nuclear fusion technology. Geothermal too expensive for return on investment. Geothermal would be great if it was a large aquaculture facility

 

[T-5unsystem]

With chillers. One watt of power used to pull heat is 1 watt of heat produced. Plus the temp pulled from the tank. The only true efficiency way is geo-thermal style OR with maybe a pilfer style exchanger.

This doesn't sound right, wouldn't there be inefficiency from compressor heat created, fan turning etc? Certainly these items don't work in perpetual motion without consuming power? Its highly doubtful anyone has made a chiller so efficient for every watt consumed 1 watt of heat was removed. Maybe I misunderstand what you are trying to say. Perhaps you mean a 1000w chilller makes 1000w of heat in addition to the X amount of heat withdrawn from the reef?

IMO Geo-thermal is a great way to go,,, bury a bunch of tubing in the yard, hook up a controllable pump to run slowly when not needed (to keep water from going anaerobic) and higher flow when chilling is required. Or simply take it offline in winter and fill with RODI and a vinegar until summer.

I use a combo of these,, my chiller is in the basement in a dirt area without a slab, its steadily cool in the area and I am sure it absorbs the vast majority of the heat created.