| Paratherm
NF® | HEAT
TRANSFER
FLUID |
| Non-Fouling - Completely Non-Toxic |
 Paratherm
NF®
Engineering Bulletin
Jump to one of the sections by clicking below, or scroll down
to find what you need:
The Paratherm NF®
heat transfer fluid is highly efficient, thermally stable and
cost-effective. Completely non-toxic, it is exceptionally safe to use and
is easy to dispose. Used fluid can be safely combined with spent
lubricating oils and recycled locally (EPA, citation 57FR21524). The NF
fluid is specified in a broad variety of applications, world wide. It is tough
and durable with a proven record of success under demanding conditions, yet is
easy and safe to handle.
Unlike conventional heat transfer
fluids, the Paratherm NF will not cause hard carbon formation on heated
surfaces. Conventional heat transfer fluids, when severely overheated,
will produce sooty carbon at the film layer. Much of this carbon
immediately adheres to the heated surface and bakes on, forming a crust.
As layer-upon-layer builds up, heat transfer - and in many cases flow - is
impaired. Although nearly impossible to remove without scraping,
sandblasting or using chlorinated solvents, the carbon can ultimately break
loose, and large chunks of it can circulate through the system impeding flows
and fouling components. Where fouling is extreme, heater tubing and
electrical elements will stress and prematurely fail. Under similar
extreme overheat conditions, the NF fluid evolves small carbon granules.
These granules remain in suspension and are easily filtered out.
The Paratherm NF has passed
Bioassay. Rainbow trout, fresh water shrimp and Gulf shrimp were exposed
to water-accommodated fractions of the NF fluid. No organisms died, and
there were no ill effects. In the event of a release, you can use the same
simple clean-up procedures employed for light lubricating oils. Once
gathered, the NF fluid can be combined with spent lube oils and sent to
the local oil recycler. There it can be converted into another useful
material, preserving natural resources. The crystal-clear Paratherm NF
contains no chlorinated hydrocarbons, aromatics, heavy metals, or sulfur or
nitrogen compounds.
The Paratherm NF fluid is
completely non-toxic. It has been certified by the FDA
and USDA, by Canadian Agriculture and Health & Welfare.
Current certifications include
NSF and Canadian CFIA
as well as New Zealand MAF for use with food
and pharmaceuticals. It also is certified kosher by the
Orthodox Union (O-U), the world's
premier kosher certifying agency. Do not breathe vapor mists of any fluid
(see the Material Safety Data Sheet for further information on these, and other
conditions).
The NF fluid has an extraordinarily
low vapor pressure - less than 1/3 of an atmosphere at its maximum operating
temperature of 600°F. This and the fluid's exceptionally low pressure
drop permit the designer considerable latitude in the choice of lower-cost
equipment.
The lower a heat transfer fluid's
viscosity, the less energy will be required to pump it through the system.
Paratherm NF's viscosity is among the lowest of available high
temperature heat transfer fluids. This means that less horsepower is
needed for a given duty, and that a smaller pump and motor can be
specified. And lower power consumption continues to produce savings year
after year.
The NF fluid is manufactured
from natural feedstocks and offers the same superb metal-coating and lubricating
properties as the finest natural oils. However, any water allowed to stand
in piping, components or especially expansion tanks of thermal oil systems can
cause severe corrosion. Because the Paratherm NF is immiscible with
water (and is also slightly less dense), any water can be easily drained from
the system's low points, or the component's drain valves. Crack the
low-point valve and allow fluid to drain into a beaker or clear water
glass. If you see a phase separation (one liquid "floating" on
top of the other), continue to drain until no separation is observed.
Containers of heat transfer fluid
should be kept in non-hazardous dry areas only. Until ready for use, the
container's tamper-evident safety seals must remain intact. Liquids
should not be allowed to pool on the tops of steel drums. In the afternoon
and evening when temperatures decrease, the heat transfer fluid will cool and
contract slightly. A partial vacuum is created in the drum, and, if the
bung's O-ring seal is not perfect, liquid standing on the top of the drum can
be drawn through, contaminating the fluid. If drums must be temporarily
stored outside, store them on their sides.
For optimal performance of both
your system and its heat transfer fluid, we strongly suggest that piping, valves
and other components be thoroughly cleaned before installation. Mill
scale, weld spatter and slag, quench oils, protective lacquer and varnish
coatings, and dust and dirt can act to degrade the fluid, and can damage pumps
and valves. And lodging in restrictions, these contaminants can easily
create the same low flow conditions that cause premature failure of systems and
fluid.
Immediately after completing
installation of the system, we suggest you purge with inert gas. Such
purging can eliminate air and water vapor, and can substantially reduce
corrosion. And while purging, you can leak test the system using simple
soap-bubble detection methods. Finally, when you charge the system, any
gas that becomes dissolved in the fluid will be inert, and fluid oxidation at
start-up will be almost nil.
When charging the system, we
suggest you fill from the bottom (a point near pump suction) using a small
positive displacement pump — not the system pump. Charging from the
system's low point can help reduce trapped air in the system, which will
substantially reduce the entrainment of gas bubbles and resultant pump
cavitation.
Because Paratherm heat transfer
fluids are produced from natural U.S. feedstocks, they are exceptionally safe to
use. Easy to dispose, used Paratherm fluids can be safely combined with
spent lubricating oils and recycled locally (EPA, citation 57FR21524).
Paratherm strongly encourages recycling of used heat transfer fluid to conserve
natural resources and to minimize the problem of liquid waste in landfills.
Overheating, oxidation and
contamination of your heat transfer fluid can significantly reduce its ability
to perform. Product quality will suffer, and in severe cases considerable
damage to your thermal oil system can result. Periodic analysis of your
fluid can allow you to detect problems in the early stages and achieve
substantial savings.
We thoroughly test each batch of
heat transfer fluid to ensure absolute conformance to tight product
specifications. Each shipment is traceable to its master batch, with test
results archived at Paratherm.
Our technical expertise is
available to you in the conceptual stage, during planning and design, and
through system construction, start-up and operation. We want to work
closely with you in the recommendation of proven thermal fluid systems,
components, supplies and procedures. We also advise on system cleaning and
repair, should these become necessary. And if your application calls for
fluids that we are unable to provide, Paratherm will assist you with the names
and phone numbers of competitors' engineers that can help.
Paratherm has available technical
data sheets covering a variety of thermal fluid and system topics including fire
prevention, system performance tracking, recommended components, draining,
flushing and charging and fluid analysis, among others. We'd be pleased
to forward these to you upon request.
Download/View
This Engineering Bulletin
as a PDF File 
Return to NF Home Page
 | 
