BUILDINGS & FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Figure 1
T fEElINg thE hEAt
thE IMportANcE of tEMpErAtUrE rEgUlAtIoN IN hEAt trANsfEr
the temperature of the office is an ongoing debate in businesses globally. Employers often search for the optimal temperature to ensure employees are comfortable and productive, but did you know there is also an optimal air temperature for industrial facilities? here dave dyer, technical sales engineer at thermal fluid specialist global heat transfer, explores the importance of air temperature when operating heat transfer systems and how to regulate it effectively.
Figure 2
emperature control is essential for any manufacturing environment - changing temperatures can have a significant impact on processes, products and people. Some
applications, such as food, chemicals, plastics or pharmaceuticals manufacturing, require heating for production. Manufacturers in these industries must consider not only how the temperature of circulating fluid will impact product quality, but how it will impact the entire facility. Health and safety teams should monitor
air temperature to ensure it does not negatively impact employee productivity or safety. Working in higher temperatures for longer periods of time can lead to fatigue, increasing the risk of illness while reducing personal productivity. Working around hot, uncovered equipment, also increases the likelihood of injuries such as burns. In order to remain compliant with health and safety legislation, companies must find ways to reduce the health and safety risks of working in facilities with heat transfer fluids.
Hot equipment While employee safety is paramount, engineering managers should also monitor air temperature to ensure that equipment remains operational - as equipment overheats energy consumption increases and equipment efficiency decreases. Just like your office computer malfunctions when it overheats, electronic controls can fail when temperatures exceed 40°C. While a thermal fluid system is built for
indirect heat transfer, exceeding the intended operating temperature can negatively impact productivity. One area that can be particularly affected is the expansion tank, a critical component that allows hot thermal fluid with the space it needs to expand, which when heated can be up to 20 per cent of system volume. To allow for this as well as provide a sufficient safety factor, the expansion tank should always be approximately a third full when the system is cold. When the system is at full working temperature, the level in the expansion tank where oil hits the atmosphere should not exceed 60°C. If the tank exceeds 60 degrees, the oil inside will oxidise, leading to a build-up of acid and carbon (as seen in figure 3). Over time this will reduce the heat transfer efficiency of the equipment and could lead to costly downtime.
Keep it covered Investing in correct, and properly installed insulation is the best way to regulate air temperature in the facility, control the temperature of equipment and better protect employees. Insulation ensures that heat created in the manufacturing process does not heat up the facility elsewhere, enabling manufacturers to ensure the air temperature is consistent. Insulating parts of the system
38 MAy/JUNE 2022 | INdUstrIAl coMplIANcE
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