How to maximise heat transfer system uptime in winter
Why winter maintenance is snow joke
How to maximise heat transfer system uptime in winter
Preparing for winter involves more than turning the heating on and digging out your winter coat . For example , blocking drafts , covering outside taps and bleeding radiators can all make your home more efficient while reducing energy costs . Similarly , when working with heat transfer systems , manufacturers can follow some simple steps to optimise their facilities for colder weather . Here Dave Dyer , technical sales engineer at thermal fluid management specialist Global Heat Transfer shares his advice for maximising heat transfer system productivity during the winter .
Just like the cold weather can affect our homes , it can also have an impact on the components of a heat transfer system and the fluid itself . So , what can manufacturers using heat transfer fluids do to maximise uptime in the winter months ?
Keep oil under cover
To maintain uptime , businesses will often store barrels of new thermal fluid onsite to quickly top up or refill the system . Facilities managers with limited storage space may store new fluid outside , but this can shorten fluid lifespan , reducing its efficiency once it enters the system . Manufacturers should store thermal fluid indoors all year round , but this is particularly important in winter and colder conditions .
When kept outside , water or condensation can enter the barrels , even if they are sealed .
During temperature changes , thermal fluid drums , barrels and intermediate bulk containers ( IBCs ) kept outside for longer periods will expand and contract , causing a vacuum . This process syphons any water or condensation sitting on top of the container into the oil , making it unusable . The greater the temperature change , the larger the expansion and retraction , so extreme weather or freezing temperatures could be more damaging . Moving barrels under cover , ideally indoors before the winter weather comes is therefore integral to keeping operations running .
Keep pumps circulating
If thermal fluid is left in a system that is not operating , it
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