Chiller Selection Guide for Injection Molding

During the injection molding process, mold temperature control is crucial for product quality, production efficiency, and stable equipment operation. Selecting the right industrial chiller can effectively reduce mold temperature, improve productivity, and ensure dimensional stability and surface quality of plastic products.

Selection Based on Injection Machine Tonnage

The most common method is to select a chiller based on the clamping force (tonnage) of the injection molding machine.

General rule:

1HP chiller ≈ 8–10 tons injection molding machine

Reference Guide

Example:

A 300-ton injection molding machine typically requires a 30HP industrial chiller.

Selection Based on Cooling Water Flow

Chiller capacity can also be determined by the required cooling water flow.

Formula:

Q = M × C × ΔT

Where:

• Q = Cooling capacity (kW)

• M = Water flow rate

• C = Specific heat of water

• ΔT = Temperature difference

Simplified estimation:

1 m³/h water flow ≈ 7 kW cooling capacity

Selection Based on Plastic Materials

Different plastic materials require different mold temperatures, which affects cooling requirements.

Common mold temperature ranges:

Higher mold temperatures generally require a more stable cooling system.

Central Cooling System

For factories operating multiple injection molding machines, a central cooling system can be used.

Advantages:

• Higher energy efficiency

• Easier system management

• Stable cooling performance

Example:

If a factory has 5 injection machines (200T each) and each requires 10HP cooling, the total demand is 50HP.

This can be configured as:

1 × 50HP chiller, or 2 × 30HP chillers

Key Information Required for Chiller Selection

To recommend the correct chiller, the following information is usually required:

• Injection machine tonnage
• Number of machines
• Required water temperature
• Ambient temperature
• Cooling method (individual or central cooling)

Capacity Recommendation

It is recommended to reserve 10–20% extra cooling capacity to ensure stable operation.

Example:

Required capacity: 30HP

Recommended configuration: 35–40HP chiller

This helps maintain stable performance and extends equipment lifespan.