Thermal transfer: Technologies to watch

Heat Transfer Systems is introducing its HTfluidfit rig to customer sites following field trials. Developed in partnership with Flamco, with part funding from East Midlands Development Agency, the patented design is said to achieve “dramatic reductions” in the physical size, complexity and cost of thermal fluid reconditioning rigs. The new unit, which is 1.5m high with a 1.5m2 footprint, weighs only 450kg and costs around one-tenth the price of original rigs, according to HTS.

ARI-Armaturen’s recently launched Encosys steam-to-water heat exchanger is a compact, low-maintenance system designed to provide hot water instantaneously up to 2,100kW, whatever the load conditions. The stainless steel unit is equipped with precisely matched steam and temperature controls, which regulate at ±1&°C under steady load conditions, making it very responsive to large or sudden load changes. The system, said ARI, rarely requires a bi-annual insurance inspection due to the low volume of the heat exchanger compared with shell-and-tube options. Energy savings can be achieved by heating the secondary water and sub-cooling the condensate in the same plate heat exchanger.

Intertec has introduced a series of slim-line, vertically-mounted, electric heaters for protecting sensitive outdoor equipment against low temperatures in hazardous areas such as chemical, oil and gas plants. Available in output powers from 200-600W, the finned heaters have profiles of just 60mm, making them suitable for mounting adjacent to panels inside enclosures and in configuring protective enclosures, cabinets and shelters for field-based equipment. The heaters are approved to IEC and other worldwide explosion-proof standards like ATEX, CSA, UL and GOST.

Hot water tanks can benefit from the energy-efficient potential of BASF’s versatile Basotect foam. The melamine resin foam has low thermal conductivity and is increasingly being used as external insulation for tanks made of stainless steel holding up to 500 litres of water.

ABAC has developed a system that recovers waste heat generated by compressed air systems. Called Alup Energy Box, it converts the heat generated by most air compressors into hot water up to 70°C, and can be fitted to any make of oil-injected rotary screw compressor up to 90kW. The system recovers energy from the oil circuit on the compressor via a heat exchanger.