Cooling Power Calculator
Calculate the required mold cooling power and cooling water flow rate. The calculator determines power based on shot weight, cycle time, and thermal parameters — key data for selecting a temperature controller and sizing the cooling installation.
Input Parameters
Results
Fill in the data and click Calculate
ARGUS automatically sizes the cooling system and selects the temperature controller
Cooling power determines the choice of temperature controller and installation capacity — ARGUS links the heat balance with cooling channel parameters and the plant's available equipment.
How do we calculate mold cooling power?
Cooling power is the amount of thermal energy that the cooling system must remove from the mold per unit time. It is the ratio of the total heat to be removed (part heat balance) to the cycle time. Proper cooling power sizing ensures mold temperature stability and process repeatability.
The calculator determines cooling power and water flow rate based on the heat balance and cycle time.
Q = m × cp × (Tm − Te)
V̇ = P / (ρw × cw × ΔTw)
P — cooling power [W]
Q — heat per shot [J]
V̇ — water flow rate [l/min]
ΔTw — water temperature rise (3–5°C)
The water flow must ensure turbulent flow in the cooling channels (Re > 10 000). For a typical channel diameter of 10 mm the minimum required flow is 3–5 l/min per circuit. Cooling water temperature is typically 10–25°C — lower temperatures shorten cooling time but may cause condensation on the mold surface.
Temperature controller selection
The temperature control unit (TCU) must provide sufficient cooling power and water flow rate:
Medium molds — 12–24 kW, 40–80 l/min
Large molds — 24–50 kW, 80–200 l/min
Power reserve — min. 20% above calculated value
Cooling medium type: water (up to 90°C, lowest cost, best heat transfer), oil (90–200°C, for materials requiring high mold temperatures — PC, PA, PPS). For semi-crystalline materials requiring controlled cooling (PA, POM, PBT) mold temperature stability of ±1°C is critical.
Cooling efficiency
The most common cooling problems: limescale deposits in channels (reduce efficiency by 20–50%), insufficient flow (laminar instead of turbulent), uneven channel distribution (hot spots). Regular maintenance of cooling channels and mold temperature monitoring are critical for process stability.
ARGUS automatically sizes cooling and monitors thermal performance
See for yourself — book a presentation and see the ARGUS thermal model in action.