FACILITIES MANAGEMENT THE SHIFT TO REMOTE SUPPORT
GLOBAL HEAT TRANSFER
Is it time thermal fluid systems joined the fourth industrial revolution ?
The first company to provide remote consultations with doctors launched in 2013 . Fast forward to 2020 , and the pandemic has meant the entire NHS has switched to remote consultations . In industry , advances in sensor technology and manufacturing software have seen remote monitoring become more prominent . But will maintenance professionals , like doctors , be able diagnose problems online ? Here , Clive Jones managing director of thermal fluid supplier Global Heat Transfer , discusses whether the pandemic could kickstart the digital revolution of thermal fluid monitoring .
Because thermal fluids degrade over time , regular thermal fluid analysis is a vital part of maintenance in facilities that use heat transfer systems . Traditionally , carrying out sampling , analysis and maintenance requires on-site support from a thermal fluid expert , who is usually a third-party . As manufacturing facilities implement new procedures to meet social distancing recommendations , it could become more difficult for external engineers to regularly visit sites .
Pandemic or not , thermal fluid analysis is not something that can be put off — it helps ensure compliance with The Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations ( DSEAR ) of 2002 and the Explosive Atmosphere Directive ( ATEX 137 ). These regulations set the minimum requirements for protection against risk of fire , explosions and similar events that can occur when there are dangerous substances in the workplace .
In addition , failing to sample fluid regularly could lead to extensive downtime if issues go undetected — it is a matter of safety , productivity and profitability . Over time , operating thermal fluids at the high temperatures required for process applications can lead to the build-up of contaminants , such as carbon , in the system . Carbon is a natural insulator so can cause a lack of flow that will lead to uneven heat transfer and a system that cannot reach and maintain required temperatures . This will begin to negatively impact product quality and increase energy costs , and could result in costly maintenance and downtime .
DISTANCED DIAGNOSIS
The new guidelines for businesses returning to work will change how manufacturers interact with suppliers and other third parties . For some outsourced maintenance activities , audio or video calls will allow the engineer to understand the situation and offer support without visiting the site .
However , effective thermal fluid management and maintenance requires external specialists to visit a site to collect a sample and perform maintenance on system components . A thermal fluid expert must take a closed sample while the system is hot and circulating , to gain an accurate representation of fluid condition .
Though visiting the facility is therefore still essential , good communication can help to reduce time on site .
46 PECM Issue 48