How can I reduce the amount of tubing running from my chiller to my application?
The Beatles sang about the “long and winding road,” which is a lovely way to enjoy a weekend ride in a convertible or on a motorbike. But when you have a long, winding tangle of hoses in your lab, it can be a real problem. In addition to being a safety hazard and an eyesore, excess tubing can have a negative impact on your results and reactions.
Winding tubing from your temperature controller to your application creates performance problems:
Bends in the hoses/tubes create turbulence with the heat transfer fluid flow, disrupting flow rates and lowering pumping efficiency.
Tubing that stretches out over a long distance can diminish cooling capacities and impede time to temperature.
Chiller Tubing Best Practices to Improve your Application
Ideally, you’ll want to have the shortest distance possible between your chiller and application using short, straight tubing.
Look for chillers and temperature control units without side vents. For example, JULABO air-cooled units don’t use side venting. All vents are on the front or back of the chiller so you can place the unit next to a wall, in a fume hood, or directly next to your application. This space-saving design is a must-have when you’re selecting a chiller.
Use 90° elbow adapters to keep the tubing between the chiller and application as straight as possible. Find the elbow adapter you need on our site.
Use insulated metal tubing to minimize heat loss between the chiller and application and maximize cooling capacities. Insulated tubing helps eliminate condensation at low temperatures and can be extremely helpful when using a chiller with a glass reactor. Find triple insulated metal tubing on our site. Note: insulated tubing is also important for high-temperature applications. Using insulated tubing at high temperatures eliminates a potential contact hazard at elevated temperatures.
Be sure to use the proper hosing for your thermal fluid and suitable hose clips to secure the hoses at both ends.
If you’re unsure which hoses or tubing and accessories to use, get technical support from our team of experts.
Pro Tip:
You can’t look at a tube and tell if it’s registering 20°C, or 200°C so exercise caution when touching any tubes connected to your application. That’s another great reason to reduce the length of tubing in your lab.
Technical Support for Connecting your Chiller to an Application
Part of the science of finding a suitable chiller or temperature control system for your application includes thinking about the placement of the temperature controller, how it will connect to your application, the temperature ranges you’ll be working with, and the thermal fluid you’ll be using. All of these considerations are a standard part of JULABO USA’s personal product recommendations. Before we recommend a chiller or solution, we’ll explore how it will be used and set up in your lab. We ask these technical questions to ensure you have everything you need to run the application the way it’s intended. When you need help with an application, we’ve got you covered; contact your account manager and start a conversation.
Our team also offers in-depth installation support through our vDelivery service, which can help you connect your application to your JULABO as efficiently as possible. You don’t have to go it alone when it comes to temperature control. We’ll ensure your chiller is accessorized, connected, and optimized for performance.
And remember, a long and winding road is fun to explore on the weekend, but when it comes to your chiller, keep it close to your application with tubing that’s as straight as possible.
