ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG is a high-performance propylene glycol-based heat transfer fluid, secondary refrigerant and antifreeze coolant developed for industrial closed-loop heating, cooling, refrigeration and HVAC applications.

Product Description

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG is formulated with high-purity USP/industrial grade 1,2-propanediol and a heavy-duty, low-depletion carboxylate/azole corrosion inhibitor package.

The formulation is designed to combine effective heat-transfer performance, freeze protection, corrosion control, anti-foam performance and buffered alkaline reserve in one industrial fluid.

The propylene glycol base provides a lower acute oral toxicity profile compared with ethylene glycol, as stated in the technical data, while the incorporated inhibitor system is designed to protect multiple metals commonly encountered in industrial heat exchangers, chillers and closed-loop circulation systems.

Key Features

• Propylene glycol-based industrial heat transfer fluid
• Suitable for heating, cooling and secondary refrigeration systems
• Freeze and burst protection across multiple glycol concentrations
• Advanced multi-metal corrosion inhibitor package
• Carboxylate/azole inhibitor technology
• Anti-foam protection
• Buffered alkaline reserve
• Designed for extended closed-loop operation
• Suitable for systems containing commonly used industrial metals, subject to general compatibility requirements

Recommended Applications

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG is intended for professional industrial closed-loop heat-transfer applications.

Recommended uses include:

• HVAC chilled water systems
• Industrial chillers
• Rooftop cooling systems
• Process cooling systems
• Industrial refrigeration loops
• Food processing refrigeration systems
• Solar thermal systems
• Ice rink cooling systems
• Data center liquid cooling systems
• Stationary equipment cooling systems
• Heat exchangers
• Closed-loop heating systems
• Secondary refrigerant circuits
• General industrial glycol circulation systems

The product may also be considered for other closed-loop heating, cooling or secondary refrigeration applications where the operating conditions, materials and process requirements are compatible with the fluid.

Typical Physical and Chemical Properties

Freeze Protection and Concentration Guidance

The required concentration should be selected according to the minimum operating temperature, required freeze protection, burst protection and overall system operating conditions.

General recommendation: The current technical data identifies 50% v/v as a recommended concentration for balanced heat-transfer performance, freeze protection and corrosion inhibitor reserve.

Minimum Concentration

A minimum concentration of 30% v/v glycol should be maintained to ensure an adequate corrosion inhibitor reserve.

Concentrations below this level are not recommended by the current technical data for normal inhibited closed-loop service.

Dilution Water Requirements

Do not dilute ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG with raw hard water.

For initial dilution and system makeup, use:

• Deionized water
• Distilled water

The recommended dilution water conductivity is:

Below 50 µS/cm

Suitable dilution water helps minimize the introduction of hardness salts, dissolved minerals and contaminants into the closed-loop system.

General Mixing Guidance

For a 50% v/v final mixture, approximately half of the final system volume consists of ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG concentrate and the remaining volume is made up with suitable deionized or distilled water.

Existing water or glycol already present in the system must be taken into account when calculating the final working concentration.

The final concentration should always be selected according to actual operating temperatures and required freeze protection rather than using one concentration for every system.

Corrosion Protection

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG contains an advanced multi-metal corrosion inhibitor package designed for metals commonly used in industrial heat-transfer equipment.

The inhibitor system is designed to provide protection for:

• Copper
• Brass
• Soldered joints
• Carbon steel
• Cast iron
• Stainless steel
• Aluminum alloys

Overall system compatibility should always be considered because complete installations may contain multiple materials in addition to the primary metals listed above.

Compatibility with Existing Glycol

Mixing with another inhibited propylene glycol coolant of a similar carboxylate formulation may generally be possible. However, a compatibility check or small-scale mixing test is recommended before combining different commercial products.

Mixing ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG with ethylene glycol or unrelated coolant formulations should not be assumed compatible without technical evaluation.

Incompatible mixtures may result in:

• Additive precipitation
• Reduced inhibitor performance
• Changes in fluid stability
• Reduced corrosion protection
• Changes in overall heat-transfer performance

System Preparation

Before introducing ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG into a new or existing closed-loop system, the system should be reasonably clean and free from excessive scale, sludge, oil, debris and incompatible chemical residues.

Where an existing fluid is being replaced, complete drainage and appropriate system flushing may be required depending on the condition and chemistry of the previous fluid.

Residual old coolant should be considered when calculating the final glycol concentration.

Monitoring and Maintenance

Regular monitoring helps maintain heat-transfer performance and corrosion protection throughout the operating life of the fluid.

The following should be checked at least every six months:

• Fluid pH
• Reserve alkalinity
• Glycol concentration
• Freeze protection
• General fluid appearance and condition
• Signs of contamination or abnormal deposits

A sudden reduction in pH below 7.5 or depletion of reserve alkalinity may indicate inhibitor exhaustion or fluid deterioration and the need for system servicing or appropriate fluid correction.

Glycol Concentration Measurement

For field measurement of glycol concentration and freeze protection, a temperature-compensated optical refractometer calibrated specifically for propylene glycol is recommended.

A hydrometer may provide an approximate indication but is not considered the preferred method for accurate field determination.

Expected Service Life

Under normal operating conditions, including proper maintenance, good system condition and absence of severe contamination, ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG has a stated expected service life of approximately:

3 to 5 years

Actual service life may vary according to operating temperature, contamination, system design, oxygen exposure, fluid maintenance and general operating conditions.

High operating temperatures can accelerate glycol degradation. The current technical data notes that operation above 120°C may increase the rate of thermal degradation.

General Operating Instructions

• Select the glycol concentration according to the minimum operating temperature and required freeze protection.
• Maintain at least 30% v/v glycol for normal inhibited closed-loop service.
• Use deionized or distilled water for dilution.
• Do not use raw hard water for dilution or system makeup.
• Account for any residual fluid already present in the system.
• Do not mix with unknown or incompatible coolant formulations without checking compatibility.
• Maintain the system as a properly closed circulation loop where applicable.
• Check fluid condition periodically.
• Measure glycol concentration using a propylene glycol calibrated refractometer where accurate field measurement is required.
• Monitor pH and reserve alkalinity during service.
• Investigate abnormal colour change, deposits, contamination or major changes in fluid condition.

Packaging

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG is available in multiple industrial packing sizes to support routine maintenance, system charging and bulk industrial requirements.

• 25 Litres
• 200 Litres
• 1,000 Litres IBC

Packing size can be selected according to total system capacity, required final glycol concentration and project requirement.

Storage

Store ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG indoors between:

5°C and 45°C

Keep containers properly closed and protect the product from:

• Direct sunlight
• Excessive heat
• Strong oxidizing chemicals
• Water or foreign-material contamination
• Uncontrolled exposure during storage and transfer

Shelf Life

The stated shelf life is:

3 years from the date of manufacture

This applies when the product is stored under the recommended conditions in its original unopened container.

Important Technical Guidance

Product concentration should always be selected according to actual system operating conditions rather than applying one standard concentration to every installation.

Before determining the required glycol concentration, establish:

• Minimum operating temperature
• Maximum operating temperature
• Total system capacity
• Required freeze protection
• Required burst protection
• Existing fluid condition
• Existing glycol concentration
• General system materials
• Overall operating environment

For unusual industrial processes, specialized materials or operating conditions outside normal closed-loop heat-transfer service, technical compatibility should be reviewed before full-scale use.

Product Summary

ALKEMIST™ THERMOLUBE-PG is a professional inhibited propylene glycol heat-transfer fluid designed for industrial closed-loop heating, cooling, refrigeration and HVAC systems.

Its combination of propylene glycol, carboxylate/azole corrosion inhibitors, buffered alkalinity and anti-foam technology is designed to provide reliable heat-transfer performance, freeze protection and multi-metal corrosion control when correctly diluted, applied and maintained.