Concrete Cooling Solutions

Concrete cooling during peak summer heat requires planning, site preparation and some changes in methodology. Hot weather poses many risks to the quality of your finished slab. So how do you maximize the productivity of summer construction projects, without succumbing to the heat?

thermometer for keeping concrete cool

Concrete Temperatures

A strong concrete cure occurs around 60° F.  When temperatures climb into the high 70s, crews need to have temperature control measures already in place to protect their slab. If left unchecked, your concrete temperatures will continue to rise. Concrete temperatures should never be allowed to rise to 90° F.

Hydration

Your slab becomes set during the hydration process, when water is absorbed and crystals are formed. Warmer concrete spends less time hydrating and has less time for these crystals to form and strengthen. The hydration of concrete curing is an exothermic process. This means as soon as water is introduced into a mixture, it will start to generate its own heat. On a cold day, this exothermic process works in your favor and helps keep your concrete warm during curing. However, during hot weather conditions, you and your crew are now faced with multiple heat sources to contend with.

A Hot Mess

Because hot concrete sets quicker, it has less time to strengthen. This time crunch can lead to structural as well as aesthetic defects. Hot concrete is prone to shrinkage and surface cracking. Crews also have less time to level, smooth, and set control joints.

Keeping Concrete Cool

There are multiple preventative methods that will help you keep your concrete cool when the heat is on.

Cold Storage

Keeping your aggregates and admixtures cool before they get mixed will help you start off right.  During peak summer months, you will need more than just shade to keep your products cool. Consider using cooling jackets around storage containers to pre-chill all your concrete components before you even begin to mix.

Chill Your Water

Chilled water can reduce concrete temperature by up to 10° F. For larger slabs, you will need more than just a bag of ice to chill enough water for your mix. Having an industrial chiller on hand to chill your water before mixing will give you a great advantage over mother nature.

Cool Your Sub-grade

Now that all of your pre-chilled components are mixed, it is time to pour. Pouring your nice cool concrete onto a piping hot sub-grade will immediately undo all of your cooling prep work. Lightly spray down (but do not saturate) your sub-grade with chilled water to keep your pour site nice and cool.

Time Your Pour

During hot conditions, pours should be scheduled during the coolest part of the day. Most likely this time frame will fall in the morning hours. If your concrete is being mixed off-site and then delivered, make sure you avoid timing your deliveries during peak heat.

Cooling Blankets

Just as dark colors absorb heat, light colors reflect heat. Using a white protective barrier over your concrete as it sets will help keep it cooler during the hydration process and minimize moisture loss. For extra cooling power on extremely hot days, the same cooling jackets that pre-chilled your aggregates and admixtures can be placed in direct contact with your slab.

Powerblanket Concrete Cooling Solutions

Powerblanket specializes in total temperature control. We can help you beat the heat, stay on schedule, and avoid costly repairs and re-pours. Our portable process cooling solutions and Fluxwrap cooling jackets are easy to use all over your job site to keep your water, admixtures, aggregates, and slabs cool on hot days. Contact us to find the perfect concrete cooling solutions for your needs at 855.900.1693 or [email protected].

 

Keep your products and processes within the desired temperature range with Powerblanket's industrial cooling solutions.


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Shelby Thompson

Shelby Thompson is the head of standard product sales for Powerblanket. He has a distinguished military career, having served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In his time in the Marines, Shelby acquired an impressive skillset that he now uses in his current role. When he's not working, Shelby loves spending time outdoors with his wife, son, and daughter. He is also a semi-keen hunter, fair weather fisherman, and shooter. Unfortunately, Shelby also has something of an unlucky streak when it comes to Fantasy Football at the company.



Small Industrial Chillers: Powerblanket and North Slope Chillers

portable chillersDo you need a cooling solution for your manufacturing process? Whether you need to control the temperature of your equipment or the product itself, Powerblanket and North Slope Chillers have partnered up to bring you the perfect cooling solution – the North Slope Chillers Fluid Chiller.

What Industries Use Small Industrial Chillers? 

Small industrial chillers service a wide variety of manufacturing operations. If you are a part of one of the following industries, you may have some idea of how valuable they can be. Perhaps your operation is still in need of effective cooling solutions. 

  • Dairy
  • Biotech
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Injection Molding
  • EDM 
  • Fermentation
  • Chemical Processing
  • Serving Room Cooling
  • Food and Packaging
  • Hydroponics
  • Welding
  • Printing
  • Plastic Manufacturing

Why Do I Need to Use a Fluid Chiller In My Industrial Operation? 

As you can see, industrial fluid chillers are a main component of many successful operations. When it comes to running a manufacturing process, temperature regulation is incredibly important. Without it, your daily operations are likely to experience time delays and unexpected obstacles. 

However, having the correct temperature control in place allows for:

  • Efficient Use of Time 
  • Increased Production
  • Cost Savings
  • Equipment Protection
  • Employee Safety

What Is a Fluid Chiller?

In the most simple terms, an industrial chiller is most often used to cool down equipment used during the manufacturing process. Water chillers are common, but other liquids can also be used for cooling needs. Liquid is chilled and circulated through the manufacturing equipment, which allows it to easily move the heat away from the process and back to the fluid chiller. With the help of a handheld controller, this fluid chiller allows for precise temperature regulation.

Some operations work best with air-cooled chillers. Air-cooled chillers absorb the heat from water used during the process. Heat is then transferred to the air around the chiller. 

Process chillers can come in a variety of sizes (ranging from just a few tons to several tons). Our chillers are designed to be easily portable, making it incredibly user friendly. They won’t get in the way and fit easily with the rest of your process equipment. It’s a cinch to install, remove, and relocate the chilling units as needed with minimal effort and time.

3 Types of Process Chillers to Meet Your Specific Needs

Different manufacturing processes have unique cooling needs, which means it’s important to have options! No matter what your specific cooling needs are, we’ve got just the solution for you. Check out our 3 main industrial chillers below.

  1. Frost: For Lite Industrial ApplicationsThe Frost chiller by North Slope Chillers is the lightest of the three options and is perfect for non-critical applications. This chiller operates down to 45° Fahrenheit fluid temperature. This is a great option if you are looking for an economical, yet reliable cooling solution that does not need to operate constantly. If you’re looking for a light cooling solution, the Frost is the industrial chiller for your operation.
  2. Freeze: The Cold StandardFor a standard, industrial-grade chiller to cool your operation, Freeze by North Slope Chillers is the best choice. This option boasts a robust condensing unit, stainless steel reservoir, and high horsepower pump. Ideal for continuous critical cooling solutions, the Freeze can cool fluids between 42° and 80° Fahrenheit.
  3. Deep Freeze: The Coldest of the ColdLast – but certainly not least – we’ve got the Deep Freeze chiller. This is an industrial grade chiller with a temperature range of 10° to 60° Fahrenheit. The Deep Freeze has insulated internal components that greatly enhance efficiency. If you need some serious cooling, look no further than the Deep Freeze by North Slope Chillers.

These chiller units are equipped with a continuous duty, non-ferrous pump and have the most advanced active refrigeration circuit available. The high-quality compressor is the magic behind the chiller’s efficiency and reliability. Because of the stainless steel reservoir with fully welded stainless steel couplers, these process chillers are made of better quality products than the competition that tends to use plastic reservoirs. 

Choose Powerblanket and North Slope Chillers for Your Industrial Fluid Chiller Needs

If you’re looking for an effective cooling solution for your operation, Powerblanket and North Slope Chillers are here to help. We specialize in all industrial cooling systems and are dedicated to keeping your process running smoothly day in and day out. 

North Slope Chillers: Small Industrial Chiller Standout Features:

  • Rated at ambient temperatures from 35°F to 100°F
  • Hermetically sealed compressor and non-ferrous piping system
  • Continuous duty, non-ferrous pump, 4 GPM at 50 PSI (other pumps available)
  • Submersed copper coil evaporator
  • Stainless steel tank with fully welded stainless steel couplers (12 gallon capacity)
  • Environmentally acceptable R134a refrigerant
  • Comes standard with a twist-lock plug
  • Mounted on casters (feet option available)
  • Cooling capacity up to 12,000 BTU’s/h
  • Powder-coated steel or stainless steel cabinet
  • Available voltages: 120VAC & 240 VAC

Think You May Need a Custom-Built Cooling Solution?

 Don’t worry, we do that too! We offer several custom solutions to meet your exact needs including advanced controls, anti-backflow, water filter, deionized chillers, alternative fluids, custom temperatures, custom sizes, and more!

Give our team of cooling experts a call today at 801.945.4203.

Keep your products and processes within the desired temperature range with Powerblanket's industrial cooling solutions.


TITLE

Shelby Thompson

Shelby Thompson is the head of standard product sales for Powerblanket. He has a distinguished military career, having served in both Afghanistan and Iraq. In his time in the Marines, Shelby acquired an impressive skillset that he now uses in his current role. When he's not working, Shelby loves spending time outdoors with his wife, son, and daughter. He is also a semi-keen hunter, fair weather fisherman, and shooter. Unfortunately, Shelby also has something of an unlucky streak when it comes to Fantasy Football at the company.


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