CHILLER SIZING INFORMATION

Chiller Sizing Rules of Thumb

Properly sizing a chiller for your application can depend on a large number of variables.  For over 40 years our team at COLD SHOT CHILLERS have successfully sized, quoted, and built machines for many applications

Chiller Size Calculator

We have developed and adopted numerous “rules of thumb” to assist our customers in their quest for cost effective, efficient industrial cooling solutions.  We have shared these “shortcuts” on pages on our site for your convenience.  We have an experienced team waiting to assist you with your specific requirements.  Please feel free to call or email any specific needs and we will promptly reply to your request.

Plug in the following three inputs into the calculator above to get the estimated chiller size you need for your application.

• The incoming water temperature
• The chill water temperature you require
• The flow rate

Still not sure what chiller you need? We have an experienced team waiting to assist you with your specific requirements.  Please feel free to contact us with any specific needs or questions and we will promptly reply to your request.

General Industrial Chiller Sizing Formula

General Industrial Chiller Sizing Formula

Looking for another way to find the right chiller size for your industry and application? You can generally calculate it using this formula:

1. Calculate Temperature Differential (?T°F)
   • ?T°F = Incoming Water Temperature (°F) – Required Chill Water Temperature
2. Calculate BTU/hr.
   • BTU/hr. = Gallons per hr x 8.33 x ?T°F
3. Calculate tons of cooling capacity
   • Tons = BTU/hr. ÷ 12,000
4. Oversize the chiller by 20%
   • Ideal Size in Tons = Tons x 1.2

If you follow these steps, you should have the ideal chiller size for your needs. Here’s an example of the formula in action:

Scenario: What size chiller is required to cool 40GPM from 70°F to 58°F?

1. ?T°F = 70°F – 58°F = 12°F
2. BTU/hr. = 40gpm x 60 x 8.33 x 12°F = 239,904 BTU/hr.
3. Ton Capacity = 239,904 BTU/hr. ÷ 12,000 = 19.992 Tons
4. Oversize the chiller = 19.992 x 1.2 = 23.9904
5. A 23.9904 or 25-Ton chiller is required

Industry-Specific Considerations

There also industry specific rules of thumb for chiller sizing depending on your application. Click the links below to see best practices for your industry:

• Metal Finishing
• Medical Chiller
• Plastics Processing
• Food Processing

Unsure what size chiller you need? Cold Shot Chillers is here to help. Contact us and we will work with you to determine the ideal sized chiller for your custom application.