|
Paratherm continues the
series with...
"WHEN AND HOW TO TEST
THERMAL
FLUID".
Among the topics addressed in
future TipSheets will be types of
heating for process applications,
thermal fluid selection and
analysis, heat transfer fluid film
coefficient, system selection,
design, installation, maintenance
and troubleshooting, and
cost/benefit analysis.
TipSheet is a service of the Paratherm
Corporation. The details are
applicable to all heat transfer fluids
in closed or vented hot-oil
systems.
|
|
Sooner or later in the life of
any thermal fluid system, the
question of when to test the
thermal fluid arises.
In some cases, the issue comes up
when the system performance begins
to falter or when it just flat out
won’t
run.
At that point, the
issue of “when” or “if ever” the
fluid has been tested is not as
important as figuring out what
went wrong. Helping to pinpoint
the cause of the failure is the
hidden benefit of fluid monitoring
since many equipment and/or
operational problems that can lead
to catastrophic fluid failure will show
up in the test
results.
So before you
find yourself attempting to
predict when the system will be
back on line, here are some tips
on when to test the thermal
fluid:
-
During
the first year of operation
for brand new systems — Any
major screwups in the
equipment design or layout
that can affect the fluid will
show up in the test
results.
-
A week
or so after a fluid change -—
Even if you don’t change
brands, there will have been
enough change in the old fluid
properties so that any residue
will show up in the test
results of the new
charge.
-
Annually
- Scheduling an annual
preventive-maintenance item
takes the guess work out of
“when” and more important,
keeps a current report on file
for your insurance
company.
How to test
the fluid is another issue. Lube
oil tests (which include dissolved
metals and particles) are cheap
but are not designed to identify
changes in the properties required
for high temperature
operation.
Outside labs
may be able to run the correct
tests but can’t properly interpret
the results. The most effective
test results are provided by the
thermal fluid
supplier.
They have
the experience with the fluid to
interpret the test results and
provide recommendations for
improvements.
For full technical data on Fluid
Analysis contact our engineering
staff at
+1-610-941-4900, or go to:
Analyzing
Your Fluids
Datasheet
Visitors
Members
If you'd like to receive these TipSheets™ on a monthly basis via email,
please enter your name and email below.
| |
OTHER TIPSHEETS COVERING THERMAL FLUID LIFE
|
(c)2005 Paratherm Corporation
http://www.paratherm.com
Any voluntary
information that you choose to share
with Paratherm will remain in our
company database and will be shared
only with our technical
representatives in order to assist
you. Any analysis of this information
we perform is to learn how to better
serve our customers, whether that be
through website design, direct contact
with customers, or advertising
choices. Your information will never
be passed on to any advertisers or
mailing list companies.
|
