Derbyshire-based heat transfer fluid specialist Heat Transfer Systems has launched HTfluidfit, a revolutionary new process that conditions thermal fluids within the operating system, an innovation that could save UK manufacturers hundreds of millions of pounds every year.
HTS estimates that there are currently at least 4,000 UK manufacturing sites operating Thermal Fluid Systems with average capacities of around 20,000 litres. All organic thermal fluids degrade over time, leading to loss of efficiency, increased flammability, potential pump failure, system down-time and associated cost. Added to this, regulations now require companies to monitor and maintain fluid flashpoints at safe levels.
Traditionally, maintaining fluid condition has been achieved by the total replacement of the fluid, which can be required as frequently as every two years. The annual cost to UK industry runs to hundreds of millions of pounds – even without factoring in loss of system efficiency, system downtime and the cost of disposal or re-processing of the used fluids.
In response to this critical issue HTS has developed HTfluidfit in partnership with the UK division of multinational Flamco. HTfluidfit conditions thermal fluids within the operating system, extending the life of the fluid ten-fold or longer to deliver huge cost savings while at the same time lowering risk, improving safety and reducing carbon emissions and waste.
The new system delivers a wide range of valuable benefits:
- Guaranteed flash and fire points
- Reduced risk and improved safety
- Consistent heat transfer performance
- Reduction in high and low boilers, sludges and insolubles
- Extended fluid life up to 10-fold +
- Elimination of system downtime
- Reduced carbon footprint
- Reduced waste
- Significant cost savings over traditional methods
- Long-term sustainability
Richard Franklin, director of HTS, said: 'Heat Transfer Systems has been developing and refining systems to condition thermal fluids in situ over the past 10 years. In that time clients operating across a diverse range of manufacturing sectors have seen real benefits in terms of improved safety, system efficiency and significant cost reduction compared with the traditional approach of total fluid replacement. We are particularly excited about the potential of HTfluidfit as a compact, low cost, highly efficient conditioning system.
'This new system will transform heat transfer fluid maintenance and has the potential to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds in annual cost savings to UK businesses. HTfluidfit really is the future for thermal fluids.'
