As a result of the ongoing developments in pharmaceutical and chemical industries there has been a push to improve the quality of products and services.
In response to this a range of innovative, advanced, single fluid systems has been developed for heating and cooling jacketed equipment, such as reactors, storage vessels, dryers and evaporators.
Working at the leading edge of thermal fluid technology, these systems are designed to be affordable, self-contained, compact units, which incorporate all the essential functions of the heating and cooling process, whilst retaining the flexibility to utilise customers’ existing site services.
Fluid circulating
Systems operate with a single fluid circulating throughout the equipment jacket.
The temperature of the fluid and thus the equipment temperature are adjusted for heating or cooling by external means.
Often, in the case of heating, this would be steam or via electric elements.
In the case of cooling, this could be cooling water, glycol, or in the case of advanced heater/chillier units, mechanical refrigeration systems.
A standard range of unit is available for temperatures in the range of -29¢ªC to 200¢ªC. Specialised units can also be provided within the -100¢ªC to 350¢ªC range. All can be modelled in 3D during design phase.
The unit flexibility allows combinations of these primary services to be combined together in one unit. The advantages can be many, particularly in reactor operations:
* Smooth, continuous temperature control, with no gaps because there are no fluid changeovers.
* No thermal shock to vessels (particularly in
glass-lined vessels).
* No interruption of process.
* No hot spots, resulting in higher product yields and quality.
* Off-batches are minimised, if not eliminated.
* Savings on expensive raw materials can be made because the yield is maximised without adding excess reactants.
* Suitable for the very cold operating temperatures (-20¢ªC or below) required by today’s new chemical formulas and reactions.
* Accurate temperature control to ±1ºC without risk to your reactor.
* Repeatability and accurate recordable measurement for meeting FDA requirements.
* Programmable heating and cooling ramps for accurate unsupervised operations.
* Systems suitable for operation in hazardous atmospheres and environments.
The benefits of utilising a standardised modular unit are:
* Quicker implementation, testing and commissioning times. Ensuring the shortest possible project lead times.
* Ongoing developments aim to maximise the lifecycle of the systems and provide greater returns on capital investment.
Alternative/specialised design units can be tailored to suit end user requirements utilising equipment such as air-blast coolers, electric heater.
In addition systems for de-watering and conditioning of thermal fluids/thermal oils have also been developed to incorporate all the essential functions of the de-watering/conditioning process, with an option for re-circulation of waste materials. The modular design of the units means that individually designed solutions can be supplied to meet the requirements of even the most complicated process projects.
Enter 21 or at www.engineerlive.com/epe
Kerry Clunie is Process Manager, Pfaudler Balfour, Riverside Road, Leven, Fife, Scotland. www.pfaudler.de
