RACA Journal April 2022 | Page 25

Feature already-high figure , cooling functions can occupy up to 50 % of those values .

Many countries have yet to establish , let alone regulate standards around industrial processes - thus leaving significant opportunity for such sectors to play a role in reduction of carbon emissions and climate change impacts . So , service providers to these industries - through design methodologies - can ensure a good outcome . To date , standards have focussed more towards HVAC products used in comfort cooling scenarios .

Process temperature control equipment regulations are also difficult to negotiate because of the generally unique conditions around each industry process and the volumes involved in facility establishment . System efficiency and environmental impacts in terms of cooling and facility versus process emissions themselves also become blurred in the evaluation .

Energy efficiency will , however , likely become an extremely important factor in the future of environmental policy , and process temperature controls are likely to incorporate a variety of measurement metrics , the requirement of hybrid-style systems , and incorporation of services as much as possible .

TECHNOLOGY / EQUIPMENT IN PROCESS HEATING AND COOLING APPLICATIONS In most instances the equipment used in process temperature control is a unique combination of technologies and not a “ one unit fits all scenario ”. Very often this means a solution is custom designed and built around the process and volumes that would be handled . Sometimes standard equipment can be adapted or modified to meet the facility criteria .

Given the fact that processes or facilities can vary from food and drinks to space travel in future , and , be located anywhere from the sea to the desert , industrial equipment and designs must generally be able to meet the toughest conditions and cater to plant sizes from something really compact to installations that are the size of a few rugby fields – all of which require different load calculations and equipment sizing .

The following are some common equipment classes used in this setting :

• Air Handling Units

• Air Movement Equipment

• Ammonia Refrigeration Systems

• Boiler Systems

• Chillers ( air and water cooled )

• CO2 Refrigeration Systems

• Cooling Towers

• Compressors / Condensers

• Cryogenic Systems

• Desiccant Systems

• Ducting and Ventilation

• DX Air Conditioning

• Evaporative Cooling

• Heat Pumps

• Humidification / Dehumidification

• Phase Change Materials and Systems

• Various Heat Exchangers

• Variable Speed Drives

DID YOU KNOW ? These are just some of the industries that require the implementation of industrial heating or cooling technologies

• Aeronautical

• Agricultural

• Beverage

• Brewing

• Dairy

• Distillation

• District cooling / heating

• Extrusions

• Food processing

• Glass

• Maritime

• Mining

• Moulding

• Oil and gas

• Petrochemical

• Pharmaceutical

• Power generation ( conventional and renewable )

• Refineries

• Telecommunications

• Water treatment

" Technology and best practice knowhow can lead to energy savings of double-digit figures on the operational budget ."