Plumbing a chiller inline on the return?

[mattsilvester]

Hi All,

I've never had a chiller before, so I have a couple of questions about plumbing it up etc.
The model is: http://www.hailea.com/e-hailea/product1/HC-500A.htm

The recommended flow rate is 1000-3000 LPH (260-790GPH).

I am about to get a red dragon 6000 pump which at a head of about 5' is about 1,350 GPH.

The connection to the chiller is 3/4" hose. The connection to the red dragon pump is 1". So I was planning on reducing the return to 3/4" and running the chiller in line on the return. I am guessing the reduced bore and friction losses will result in a reduciton of flow from the pump.

Questions:

(1) will reducing the bore etc. and the resulting increase in pump head do any harm to the red dragon?
(2) will it be ok from the chillers perspective if the recommended max flow is exceeded a bit?

Thanks for your input.

 

[atreis]

It won't hurt the pump - it'll "see" greater head pressure is all.

I've no idea as to the chiller, though. You could go with a somewhat smaller pump and be within the chiller's recommendations. For a 150g tank, you really only need 450 or so gph anyway.

 

[mattsilvester]

Is it better to return the chilled water to the sump, or directly to the main tank?

I could easily split the return, with the chiller returning back to the sump. At 1,350 GPH, thats x9 tank turnovers. I've be happy with x5. So plenty of capcity to split the return.

 

[Mark I]

When I did mine I split the return and returned it to the sump, and have a ball valves on both so I can shut down chiller and regulate the flow both ways. BTW I also run a Red Dragon return pump

 

[mattsilvester]

When I did mine I split the return and returned it to the sump, and have a ball valves on both so I can shut down chiller and regulate the flow both ways. BTW I also run a Red Dragon return pump

I love my red dragon pump. Expensive, but worth it. Low power consumption and low heat, great pressure 'vs' flow performance, and near silent operation it is unbeatable in my view. I actually aready own this pump - I moved home from Ireland to Thailand recently, and have a relative bringing it over for me next week when they come on holiday :thumbsup:

 

[robertcedgar]

Run a 1 inch return from you pump to your tank. Cut in two 1 inch x 1 inch x 3/4 inch "t" unions as well as a 1 inch ball valve in between the two "t" unions. Plumb the 3/4 inch sides to your chiller and use the ball valve to regulate the flow to you chiller. I did this on one side of my dual return in my 130 and it works perfectly.

 

[mattsilvester]

Run a 1 inch return from you pump to your tank. Cut in two 1 inch x 1 inch x 3/4 inch "t" unions as well as a 1 inch ball valve in between the two "t" unions. Plumb the 3/4 inch sides to your chiller and use the ball valve to regulate the flow to you chiller. I did this on one side of my dual return in my 130 and it works perfectly.

Hi Robert,

That sounds like a good idea. One question - how do you gauge how much flow you have going through the chiller?

Cheers.

 

[sirreal63]

I would split the return as Robert suggests, but I wold use a gate valve instead of a ball, much better adjustments are possible. Chillers are fun, too much flow and they don't cool the water well enough, causing the chiller to run more, too slow of flow and the tank doesn't get adequately chilled. I would play around with the the flow through it until you find the sweet spot, my chiller did best when I was about in between the min and max flow.

 

[Donkeykong]

Just make sure the chiller isnt dumping right back into the return or you will just be circulating the same water, put it at the other end of the sump.

 

[mattsilvester]

Just make sure the chiller isnt dumping right back into the return or you will just be circulating the same water, put it at the other end of the sump.

The chiller is feeding directly to the display, so no re-circ will occur.