Ethylene Glycol Heat-Transfer Fluid

Freezing point, viscosity, specific gravity and specific heat capacity of ethylene glycol based heat-transfer
fluids, or brines

Ethylene Glycol based water solutions are common in heat-transfer applications where the temperature in the heat transfer fluid can
be below 32oF (0oC). Ethylene glycol is also commonly used in heating applications that temporarily may not be operated (cold) in
surroundings with freezing conditions - such as cars and machines with water cooled engines.

Ethylene Glycol is the most common antifreeze fluid for standard heating and cooling applications. Ethylene glycol should be avoided
if there is a slightest chance of leakage to potable water or food processing systems. Instead solutions based on propylene glycol are
commonly used.

Specific heat capacity, viscosity and specific weight of a water and ethylene glycol solution vary significantly with the percent of
ethylene glycol and the temperature of the fluid. Properties differs so much from clean water that heat transfer systems with ethylene
glycol should be calculated thoroughly for actual temperature and solution.

Freezing Point of Ethylene Glycol based Water Solutions

Freezing points of ethylene glycol based water solutions at various temperatures are indicated below

Freezing Point

Ethylene Glycol Solution

0 10 20 30 40 50 60
(% by volume)

(oF) 32 23 14 2 -13 -36 -70

Temperature
(oC) 0 -3 -8 -16 -25 -37 -55
  Propylene Glycol and Freezing Points

Due to possible slush creation, ethylene glycol and water solutions should not be used in conditions close to freezing points.

Dynamic Viscosity of Ethylene Glycol based Water Solutions

Dynamic viscosities - μ- of ethylene glycol based water solutions at various temperatures are indicated below

Dynamic Viscosity - μ - (centpoise)

Temperature Ethylene Glycol Solution (% by volume)

(oF) (oC) 25 30 40 50 60 65 100

1) 1)
0 -17.8 15 22 35 45 310

40 4.4 3 3.5 4.8 6.5 9 10.2 48

80 26.7 1.5 1.7 2.2 2.8 3.8 4.5 14

120 48.9 0.9 1 1.3 1.5 2 2.4 7

160 71.1 0.65 0.7 0.8 0.95 1.3 1.5 3.8

200 93.3 0.48 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.88 0.98 1.4

2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
240 115.6 1.8

2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
280 137.8 1.4
 1. below freezing point
2. above boiling point

Note! The dynamic viscosity of an ethylene glycol based water solution is increased compared with the dynamic viscosity of clean
water. As a consequence the head loss in the a piping system with ethylene glycol is increased compared to clean water.

Specific Gravity of Ethylene Glycol based Water Solutions

Specific gravity - SG - of ethylene glycol based water solutions at various temperatures are indicated below

Specific Gravity- SG -

Temperature Ethylene Glycol Solution (% by volume)

(oF) (oC) 25 30 40 50 60 65 100

1) 1) 1) 1) 1)
-40 -40 1.12 1.13

1) 1)
0 -17.8 1.08 1.10 1.11 1.12 1.16

40 4.4 1.048 1.057 1.07 1.088 1.1 1.11 1.145

80 26.7 1.04 1.048 1.06 1.077 1.09 1.095 1.13

120 48.9 1.03 1.038 1.05 1.064 1.077 1.082 1.115

160 71.1 1.018 1.025 1.038 1.05 1.062 1.068 1.049

200 93.3 1.005 1.013 1.026 1.038 1.049 1.054 1.084

 2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
240 115.6 1.067

2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
280 137.8 1.05

1. below freezing point

2. above boiling point

Note! The specific gravity of ethylene glycol based water solutions are increased compared with specific gravity of clean water.

Specific Heat Capacity of Ethylene Glycol based Water Solutions

Specific Heat Capacities - cp - of ethylene glycol based water solutions at various temperatures are indicated below

Specific Heat Capacity - cp - (Btu/lb.oF)

Temperature Ethylene Glycol Solution (% by volume)

(oF) (oC) 25 30 40 50 60 65 100

1) 1) 1) 1) 1)
-40 -40 0.68 0.703

1) 1)
0 -17.8 0.83 0.78 0.723 0.7 0.54

40 4.4 0.913 0.89 0.845 0.795 0.748 0.721 0.562

80 26.7 0.921 0.902 0.86 0.815 0.768 0.743 0.59

120 48.9 0.933 0.915 0.875 0.832 0.788 0.765 0.612

160 71.1 0.94 0.925 0.89 0.85 0.81 0.786 0.64

200 93.3 0.953 0.936 0.905 0.865 0.83 0.807 0.66

2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
240 115.6 0.828 0.689

2) 2) 2) 2) 2) 2)
280 137.8 0.71

1. below freezing point

2. above boiling point

 1 Btu/(lbmoF) = 4,186.8 J/(kg K) = 1 kcal/(kgoC)

Note! The specific heat capacity of ethylene glycol based water solutions are less than the specific heat capacity of clean water. For
a heat transfer system with ethylene glycol the circulated volume must be increased compared to a system with clean water.

In a 50% solution with operational temperatures above 36 oF the specific heat capacity is decreased with approximately 20%. The
reduced heat capacity must be compensated by circulating more fluid.

Automobile antifreeze solutions should not be used in HVAC systems because they contain silicates that may cause fouling. Silicates
in automobile antifreeze are used to protect aluminum engine parts.

Note! Distilled or deionized water should be used for ethylene glycol solutions. City water may be treated with chlorine which is
corrosive.

Systems for automatic makeup water should not be used since a leakage would contaminate the environment and dilute the antifreeze
protection of the system.

Boiling Points Ethylene Glycol Solutions

Boiling Point
Ethylene Glycol Solution
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
(% by volume)

(oF) 212 214 216 220 220 225 232

Temperature
(oC) 100 101.1 102.2 104.4 104.4 107.2 111.1

Increase in Flow required for a 50% Ethylene Glycol Solution

Increase in circulated flow for 50% ethylene glycol solutions compared with clean water are indicated in the table below

Fluid Temperature
Flow Increase
(%)
(oF) (oC)

40 4.4 22

100 37.8 16

140 60.0 15

180 82.2 14

220 104.4 14

Pressure Drop Correction and Combined Pressure Drop and Volume Flow Correction for 50% Ethylene Glycol Solution

Pressure drop correction and combined pressure drop and flow increase correction for 50% ethylene glycol solutions compared with
clean water are indicated in the table below
Fluid Temperature Pressure Drop Correction with Combined Pressure Drop and Flow
Flow Rates Equal Rate Correction
(oF) (oC) (%) (%)

40 4.4 45 114

100 37.8 10 49

140 60.0 0 32

180 82.2 -6 23

220 104.4 -10 18

Does anti-freeze / anti-boil, or anything that alters the freezing and/or boiling temperatures of water effect the latent heat capacity of water? If
so, how does it work (in terms of Y12 chem/physics)?

The specific heat capacity of ethylene glycol is around 2470 J/kgK.

Mixtures with water have specific heats that are in direct proportion to the amounts of the two components. eg a 50:50 mixture is
0.5*4200+0.5*2470

Question

Ethyl glycol has a specific heat capacity of 2.42J/(g*K).

Calculate q when 3.65 kg of ethylene glycol
.Ethyl glycol has a specific heat capacity of 2.42J/(g*K). Calculate
q when 3.65 kg of ethylene glycol is cooled from 132 degrees C to 85
degrees C.
a) -1900kj
b) -420kj
c) -99kj
d)-0.42kj
e) -4.2x10^-6k

Answerer 1

q= -(mass * specific heat * change in temperature)

mass= 3.65x10^3g
specific heat= 2.42 J/gK
change in temp= 47K

q=-(3.65x10^3 * 2.42 * 47)

q=-415.151kJ = -420kJ Answer B

Physical Properties

Physical Properties (1) Monoethylene Glycol Diethylene Glycol Triethylene Glycol Tetraethylene Glycol
MEG DEG TEG TETRA EG
Formula C2H6O2 C4H10O4 C6H14O4 C8H18O5

CAS Number 107-21-1 111-46-6 112-27-6 112-60-7

Molecular Weight, g/mol 62 106.12 150 194.2

Boiling Point @ 760 mm Hg, °C (°F) 197 (387) 245 (473) 288 (550) 329 (625) Decomposes

Vapor Pressure at 20°C (68°F) mm Hg 0.06 0.002 <0.01 <0.01

Density, (g/cc) @ 20°C (68°F) 1.115 1.118 1.125 1.124

Density, (g/cc) @ 60°C (140°F) 1.096 1.085 1.087 1.093 1.096

Pounds Per Gallon @ 25°C (77°F) 9.26 9.27 9.35 9.37

Freezing Point, °C (°F) -13.4 (7.9) -9.0 (16) -4.3 (24) -4 (25)

Pour Point, °C (°F) <-59 (<-75) -54 (-65) -58 (-73) -41 (-42)

Viscosity, cP @ 25°C (68°F) 16.9 35.7 49.0 58.3

Viscosity, cP @ 60°C (140°F) 5.2 7.3 10.3 11.4

Surface Tension, dynes/cm @ 25°C (77°F) 48 44.8 45.5 44.0

Refractive Index @ 20°C (68°F) 1.430 1.447 1.455 1.459

Specific Heat @ 25°C (77°F) Btu/lb/°F 0.58 0.55 0.52 0.52

Flash Point, °C (°F) 116 (241) (2) 154 (310) (2) 177 (350) (2) 202 (395) (2)

Dipole Moment in Debyes 2.28 2.69 2.99 3.25

Coefficient of Expansion x 104 (0-60°C) 6.5 6.6 7.2 7.3

Thermal Conductivity, Btu hr-1 ft-1 °F-1 25°C (77°F) 0.1490 0.1175 0.1133 0.1106

Thermal Conductivity, Btu hr-1 ft-1 °F-1 25°C (77°F) 0.1490 0.1175 0.1133 0.1106

Heat of Formation, Btu/lb@ 25°C (77°F) -93 -131 -171 -212

Heat of Vaporization, Btu/lb@ 25°C (77°F) 369 234.4 179 139

Electrical Conductivity, mhos/cm,@20°C 1.07 (3) 0.0042 (3) 0.002 (3) 0.0016 (3)

(1)
Note: These properties are laboratory results on pure compounds or typical of the product, but should not be confused with, or regarded as,
specifications.

(2)
Penskey-Martens Closed Cup (PMCC)

(3)
Electrical conductivity values are measured on highest quality, pure materials. Contamination by other ionic species from storage, handling, or
use may significantly affect the electrical conductivity. The literature value for ethylene glycol is 1.07x10-6 mhos/cm at 25°C.

See Products and Applications for more information or for more specific support, including Sales Specifications and Safety Data
Sheets (SDS), please Contact Us.