HEAT TRANSFER FEATURE FINER FILTRATION CAPTURES THE ELUSIVE 80%
remove solids without incurring any downtime. The depositional filtration technique
was trialled in Latvia and is already operational in Spain and Holland, where it is generating improved heat transfer efficiencies in sectors including petrochemical and wood panel manufacturing. In order to ensure that thermal fluid
filtration is undertaken when necessary – before carbonisation begins to compromise the efficiency of the heat transfer system – process manufacturers should carry out thermal oil testing and analysis regularly. Carbonisation is only one thermal fluid
Richard Franklin, managing director of Thermal Fluid Solutions, explains the crucial role played by filtration in the maintenance of heat transfer systems, and offers advice regarding the regular tests that should be routinely undertaken as part of a continuous risk assessment and management package
T
housands of companies within Europe’s process industries operate
thermal fluid systems to transfer heat around their manufacturing plants. The thermal oils that run through these systems degrade over time. This degradation takes many forms, including the formation of carbon solids due to the oxidisation of thermal oil operating at high temperatures. Carbon solids abrade components such as pumps, seals,
filtration traditionally used throughout Europe carries the disadvantage of missing the estimated 80% or so of matter which is too small to be captured by the mesh, so systems remain compromised due to a build-up of matter. Thermal Fluid Systems has recently
developed a pioneering form of depositional thermal fluid filtration technology, capable of removing the
In order to ensure that thermal fluid filtration is undertaken when necessary – before carbonisation begins to compromise efficiency – process manufacturers should carry out thermal oil testing and analysis regularly
‘Carbonisation is only one thermal fluid parameter that should be checked during regular testing if a process manufacturer is to ensure the efficient, safe and compliant operation of their heat transfer systems’
bearings and valves, compromising their performance. They form deposits, restricting flow and reducing the heat transfer capability of the system. If left unchecked, heat transfer systems can become completely blocked and cease to function. Historically, the only option available to process manufacturers whose thermal fluid systems were at risk of becoming compromised by carbon solids was complete thermal oil replacement. However, this was expensive and incurred downtime, as it required the systems to be temporarily switched off. Several oil system support and
maintenance firms offer full flow filter mesh filtration services. These involve the filtration of fluids in live systems and so preclude the need for costly full oil replacement. However, the full flow filter mesh
elusive 80% of particulate matter too small to be captured by full flow filter mesh filtration, enabling process manufacturers to effectively maintain the heat transfer property and overall efficiency of their thermal oil systems. Depositional filtration units re-route oil
from customers’ live thermal fluid systems, running it through fine filters to
parameter that should be checked during these regular tests. Other criteria against which oil should be tested, ideally as part of a continuous thermal fluid risk assessment and management programme, include total acid number (TAN), viscosity and water content. Water will impede an oil’s heat transfer properties and also the efficiency of the system. At operating temperatures, water vapour is formed which may lead to cavitation and ultimately results in mechanical damage to critical components such as pumps, and potentially more serious issues through fluid escapes. An increase in an oil’s acid number may
Depositional filtration: fine filters remove solids without incurring downtime
be an indication of systemic issues in a thermal fluid system which, if left unchecked, may result in a reduction in system efficiency. Heat transfer fluid degradation can also cause a fluid’s flashpoint to decrease, as “lighter” fractions with lower flashpoints than the heat transfer fluid itself are generated, reducing the flashpoint of the fluid overall, so that fluids become more flammable at the system operating temperature and so pose an increasing risk of fire and explosion, should there be a fluid release. Health and safety legislation such as European ATEX - implemented in the UK via DSEAR, and PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations), requires process manufacturers to regularly test their heat transfer fluid’s flashpoint and, as appropriate, to restore it to a safe level. Traditionally, this could only be achieved by total fluid replacement, which was expensive and incurred downtime. However, reconditioning services are now available, providing a quick, cost-effective and environmentally sustainable alternative to fluid replacement.
Thermal Fluid Systems
www.thermalfluidsolutions.com
PROCESS & CONTROL | DECEMBER/JANUARY 2019 7
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
