HYDROPONIC WATER CHILLER

Hydroponic Water Chillers for Grow Room Cooling

Designed for large-scale hydroponic grow rooms, hydroponic chillers from Cold Shot Chillers® can achieve the close temperature control required for optimal plant growth.

Why You Need a Water Chiller System for Hydroponics

Hydroponics is a special type of hydroculture that grows plants in nutrient-rich, water-based solutions rather than soil. Like regular nurseries, hydroponic systems require light from the sun or grow lights for crops to develop properly.

Temperature management is also critical to growing plants hydroponically as several plants develop optimally at specific temperatures. For example, cucumbers thrive at higher temperatures.

There are several ways to control the ambient temperature of hydroponic reservoirs such as using water-cooled systems, reflective metal to shield the reservoir from ambient heat, or investing in a hydroponic water chiller. Of all the temperature control methods, industrial chillers provide the best cooling efficiency. 

What is a Hydroponic Chiller?

A hydroponic water chiller is a system that provides process cooling for hydroponic reservoirs. High water temperatures can have a severe impact on the growth of your plants. The ideal water temperature for hydroponics fosters a good balance between oxygen usage and metabolism of your plants. For commercially-cultivated plants, this can be anywhere from 59 to 86°F.

How Do Hydroponic Chillers Work?

Hydroponic water chillers have the same principle of operation as standard industrial chillers. The nutrient-rich solution within the system is circulated through the chiller which contains cooling coils that chill it to the required temperature.

Benefits of Hydroponic Water Chillers

Industrial chillers can be used to achieve temperature control within hydroponic cultures to aid proper plant growth. A water chiller system for hydroponics offers the following benefits over other process cooling methods:

1. High-efficiency cooling with reliable operation
2. Suitable for large-scale hydroponic systems
3. Some manufacturers offer custom chiller sizes
4. Remote operation via PLCs to monitor and regulate process temperatures

Applications by Grow Method and Crop Type

Cold Shot Chillers® systems are ideal for many hydroponic setups, including:

1. DWC (Deep Water Culture): Keeps reservoir temps stable even with large root masses.
2. NFT (Nutrient Film Technique): Maintains oxygen balance in shallow streams.
3. Ebb & Flow systems: Handles repeated fill-drain cycles efficiently.
4. Aeroponics: Supports misting chambers needing tight thermal control.

Chillers can be tuned to match crop needs like:

1. Lettuce and leafy greens: lower, stable water temps
2. Tomatoes and peppers: moderate cooling to prevent root stress
3. Cucumbers: higher temperature range

What Size Chiller Do I Need for My Grow Room Cooling Systems?

To find the best water chiller for hydroponics, you may use the following steps:

1. First, determine the approximate volume of water in your hydroponic system (in gallons).
2. Next, try to find the maximum temperature of your process. You can achieve this by turning on all appliances that generate heat or recording the temperature of the system during the hottest period of the day.
3. Cool the system down to the required temperature using ice packs to avoid increasing the volume of water in the system.
4. Once you reach the desired temperature, remove the ice from the system and circulate the process water.
5. Record the temperature of the system after you first removed the ice packs.
6. After an hour, record the current temperature of the system.
7. Subtract your starting temperature from your current temperature and record this value, known as the temperature differential.
8. Find your ideal chiller capacity in BTU/hr using this simple formula: Volume of water in the system (in gallons) * 8.34 * Temperature Differential (in °F)

Alternatively, you can use Cold Shot Chillers^® chiller sizing tool by providing your incoming water temperature, ideal chill water temperature, and flow rate.

Cold Shot Chillers® offers hydroponics water chillers with capacities ranging from 1.5 to 100 tons. They can maintain temperatures between +/-2 °F of your desired set point.

Why Choose Cold Shot Chillers®

Our chillers are built for demanding, around-the-clock industrial process cooling applications. Each system includes features like:

• Unit cooling capacity sized to match your grow setup
• Options for capacity control alarm output, visual alarms communications upgrade, and controls hot gas bypass
• Reliable internal pumping system with upgradeable valves and pump components
• Accurate control and monitoring via digital water pressure display
• Clear loading specifications model and approximate unit weight crated details for easier planning

Cold Shot Chillers® are made in the USA and backed by a team that knows process cooling. Let us help you size the right chiller to meet your grow room needs.

Cold Shot Chillers® Can Support Your DWC Cooling Needs

Unsure of where to buy hydroponic water chillers? Grow room cooling systems from Cold Shot Chillers® use high-efficiency cooling coils to regulate the temperature of your hydroponic system/reservoir. Our chillers are manufactured using premium-grade materials for durable operation.

Please contact us today for more information about our hydroponic water chillers or to request a quote.