Inhibited glycol is a fluid widely utilized for controlling several industrial functions like secondary cooling and heating applications, protection of pipes from freezing and bursting during colder months, and for various defrosting, de-icing, and dehumidifying purposes.
Different glycol fluids are employed for the same functions because of their similarity in physical characteristics. Propylene glycol is one of the most safe to use. It has a slightly better freeze and burst protection with minimal environmental contamination or toxicity.
Common Applications:
- Chillers
- Cold room dehumidifiers
- Heat recovery
- Boilers
- Refrigeration coil defrosting
- Sidewalk snow-melt systems
- Refrigeration warehouse floor heating
- Liquid food chillers
- Outdoor wood boilers
- Freeze/burst/corrosion protection for HVAC system
- Thermal energy storage (TES) systems
- Air preheating
- Immersion freezing or chilling for solid, wrapped foods
- Ground source heat pumps
- Process heating and chilling
- Moderate temperature batch processing
- Conveyor roller defrosting
- Fermentation and indirect food cooling
- Solar heating
- Ice skating rinks
- Beverage processing for wines and beers
- Radiant floor heating
- Hydronic heating systems
Propylene glycol is an organic alcohol, also known as propane-1,2-diol in IUPAC nomenclature. Pure propylene glycol is synthesized through the hydration of propylene oxide. Its single atom has three carbon atoms, eight hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms represented by C3H8O2. For non-industrial applications, propylene glycol is usually added to foods, toiletries, and cosmetic products as a humectant and preservative.
