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Paratherm Hot-Oil in BioDiesel Process for Over a Decade
A Florida BioDiesel plant, designed and constructed in the mid 1990's needed a durable, food-grade, thermally stable
high-temperature heat transfer fluid to heat the transesterification process and distill the methanol off the glycerine recovery.
The engineers chose the Paratherm NF® Heat Transfer Fluid. This food grade (NSF approved) fluid operates between 120°F and a film temperature of 650°F.
At the time, the Paratherm NF fluid already had a history, and wide usage, in bio-oils processing. The Paratherm NF fluid has been specified and employed in numerous edible-oil plants, often replacing steam or synthetic vapor-phase fluids, in a distillation process known as oil deodorization.
The properties that made this specific heat transfer fluid attractive to the bio-oil industry, and why it continues to be used in dozens of these plants, also help explain why it is being specified for the transesterification process in several BioDiesel plants going online now, and several more under construction...
- High Temperature Capability: Unlike most other hot oils, the Paratherm NF fluid is rated for film temperatures up to 650°F—allowing for the 550° to 600° process temperature range shared by
Bio-oil distillation and BioDiesel glycerine production, with a safe temperature buffer to allow for temperature glitches or operator issues. In this demanding Biodiesel heating process, it is a "forgiving" fluid.
- Food-Grade Status: Unlike synthetic alternatives, Paratherm NF is FDA and NSF certified and completely non-toxic—which could be important to downline users of glycerine by-product. The fluid's lack of irritating odor and easy recyclability and disposal are added benefits deriving from its non-toxic status.
- Availability: The Paratherm NF fluid is stocked in 6 North-American regional warehouses for fast routine supply—and super-fast availability in emergencies. Yes, even evenings and weekends. So if an unforseen system problem leads to a need for a bunch of drums tomorrow morning, or this afternoon, Paratherm can deliver.
- Tech Support: Paratherm customers call Paratherm—not just about fluids and orders and shipments, but about their systems. Paratherm's SludgeBusters team of engineers know hot-oil systems well, and routinely help customers troubleshoot their process operations. For example, the Florida BioDiesel plant mentioned in the above paragraph had an exchanger breach in 2004, and Paratherm assisted with the diagnosis of the problem, then advised in the repair of the system and rehabilitation of the contaminated thermal oil through fluid analysis and interpretation. This involved a step-by-step boilout and partial drainage procedure. The fluid in that system has been running, with regular fluid analysis and assistance from Paratherm support, since 1993.
BIODIESEL—HOT OIL VS. STEAM EFFICIENCY COMPARISON 
Basis: SRI PEP Report No.136A, correlated w. capacity & escalated to 2006
For a hot oil vs. steam costs/savings analysis specifically for your system or planned system, click here and send us an email, or call Jed Seybold at +1 800-222 3611. This chart is just a small example based upon our engineering spreadsheet software.
Paratherm is surveying the biodiesel industry for process-heating methods. To participate in the online version of the survey, please click here. After completing the survey, participants can view the results and/or request the summary of the results from the mailed version of the survey.
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Get an instant email of the Paratherm NF product information, safety data, and physical/thermal properties data by entering your email address here:
RELATED ARTICLES
OTHER ARTICLES
BioDiesel/BioFuel/Renewable Energy Industry Links
Paratherm Corporation is now an associate member of the Biodiesel Board
BioDiesel/BioEnergy Users in Business
Odds and Ends
"One of the unexpected side effects of switching to biodiesel has been the smell. We are usually working quite close to our equipment as we set boulders or surface trail. The biodiesel is less toxic and smells considerably better than straight diesel. At the end of the day, you might crave french fries, but that's better than having a splitting headache." Marc Archambault at The Unturned Stone
National Biodiesel Board Rolls Out Biodiesel Hotline Call +1 866-BIODIESEL to locate a Biodiesel station near you!
Honda Will Pitch New Diesel for America Reliable Plant Magazine
See Paratherm Live at...
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THE NATIONAL BIODIESEL CONFERENCE & EXPO — Orlando, Florida, USA February. 3-6, 2008 |
Be sure to visit Paratherm Corporation in the Steam Busters Booth (Booth 300) and pick up straight-shooting information comparing Steam with Thermal Oil for Biodiesel Process Heating.
National Biodiesel Conference and Expo with more than 125 booths showcasing the latest in biodiesel products and services.
Educational tracks in the conference include a Technical Track, Fuel Distribution Track, Policy/Regulations Track, Markets Track, Users Track, Production Track and OEM Sessions.
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The Engineers at Paratherm Corporation know chemical processing systems and
applications as well as they know their fluids. Successful CPI processors are getting the most out of Paratherm and its
superior products and engineering support.
Want a further taste of Paratherm's expertise? Look
at the menu bar on the right of this page, and click on the TipSheet™
link. Here you'll find brief technical notes about systems.
TipSheets cover system safety, efficiency, contamination, tuning and trouble-shooting,
starting up, shutting down, and more. Like what you see? Sign up
and you'll get these quick technical briefs every month or so via email—or RSS.
Paratherm heat transfer oils are stocked in 6 locations around North America (and 5 more around the world) so you can get them fast. Click on Availability to see where.
For comprehensive and accessible information, organized
for quick and handy reference, click on Heat
Transfer Fluids or System
Cleaners at the top of the navigation bar on the right. Don't
forget the other links too! Although heat transfer fluids and cleaners are what
we ship to you, services are what we do for you. All day,
everyday. Design assistance, thermal fluid analysis, applications support,
preventive maintenance, and fast, attentive response to orders and other needs.
Paratherm has been developing new heat transfer fluid products
since 1988—products that continue to improve the efficiency of thermal processing
applications and product quality . Paratherm customers have learned to count
on the safety and reliability of these safe, non-toxic, non-fouling fluids.
New stocking and shipping locations mean customers get the
products they require quickly. And Paratherm's commitment to applications and
system support means they get the answers they need even more quickly.
Engineering....Not VoicemailSM
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