Question of predilection?

Among Santa Claus, the Christmas typical tree and a typical snowman, we have decanted to choose the first one. Maybe for his corporate colour that coincides with ours, maybe because it is the responsible of giving coal or happiness at the end of every year, according with our behavior...

Maybe because it is beloved and it is for more years than us in the market… The question is that we wish that you receive the two best gifts that he can give us: health and work, hoping to meet you here in the new year.

Enjoy your Christmas time.

From PIROBLOC… question of predilection.

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One year ago...

One year ago, we published the first blog in google.

Lapsed that time, I hope our blogs have provided to you information and new points of view on us, our products and the world of the thermal fluid.

By our side, we thank you very much for the visits received in our page and also for the comments of the readers.

PIROBLOC born in the secondary sector with a local and national orientation that later would become into international, it bets to continue using the new technologies to continue evolving in that sense.

We are opened to everybody who they want to read on us and to know our perspective of the sector present time.

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Pirobloc electrical steam boilers

The new range of PIROBLOC Electrical Steam Boilers has been conceived as a monobloc group, provided of all the security and control devices, as an electrical control panel, water feeding pump, levels, pressure switches, etc.

As a result of the R+D+i department of the company, this complete line includes powers from 25 kW to 200 KW, and so, a steam production from 35 to 300 kg/h.

The maximum pressure of the standard service is 8 bar (working temperature up to 180 ºC), but also other pressures under particular specifications can be supplied. The design code used is EN-13445. As a variant, we can make it completely in stainless steel.

These equipments will go mainly destined to Chemical, Pharmaceutical, Food and Cosmetic Industries.

Besides the manufacture, the company can make the assembly, the installation, the start up, the legalization of the installation and the after sales service.

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Pirobloc will be present in Expoquimia 2008

I take the advantage of this mean to announce you that PIROBLOC, S.A. it will be present again in the International Exhibition of Chemical EXPOQUIMIA that will take place from the 20th to 24th October 2008 in Barcelona and concretely in the exhibitions area of the Gran Via.

You can visit our stand nº I 1644 in the pavilion number 3, in which we will present two of our habitual manufactures as well as, a new boiler to give answer to the numerous requests received during the last two years: an electric boiler to generate steam.

This new boiler concept is born of the acquired experience with the steam boilers of Ferroli Spa that we distribute exclusively for all Spain, as well as, of the hole in the market, of boilers of those characteristics for low powers and heating requirements.

Therefore, we wait you in our stand where you will be able to see and to touch our equipments, as well as, to receive all the necessary information to determine the most appropriate solution to your necessities.

Not doubt to request us your free tickets in advance. We wait for you.

About Expoquimia 2008:

• Technical data
• Sectors
  
• How to get there
• Activities
  

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The used oils and their elimination

For those already users of thermal oil facilities, as well as, for the companies taking the decision of installing this technology, we want to clarify the question: What can you do with the used thermal oil, once its useful life is finished?
Following what we have said in our previous blogs, the oil of industrial use, being mineral or synthetic, it has some properties that make it able for the transport and transmission of indirect heat in industrial processes thanks to its properties, having a useful life superior to the 25.000 working hours, whenever the installation has the following premises:

• A correct dimensioning of the installation.
• A correct design of the thermal oil heater.
• A correct evacuation of the vapors.
• The tightness of the installation to avoid the oil oxidation.
• Demanded hours of work.
• And the election of the most appropriate thermal oil for the necessary working temperature in the process, as well as, of the recirculation group.
  

Once the oil has lost its properties, it should be changed, using a new one. In the market there are companies that they collect it for its destruction, or in some cases, for its preparation for its use as fuel in big steel furnaces and big industrial companies of several sectors.

Other types of used oils (as dielectric ones, lubricant oils, etc.) they are regenerable if the owner doesn't mix them with vegetable oils, synthetic ones, water or solid particles, before they are picked up by the company specialized in recycling. The service of picking up will be free or paid, according with the analyses previously realised by them on oils. Read More!

An interesting article about chips

Following our last blogs, I would like to treat today the use of the thermal fluid in the food industry and concretely to ask your attention on an article published in the Spanish magazine ALIMENTACIÓN Equipos y Tecnología, nº 233. This article speaks about the correct manipulation of the potato like primary element and base of a great industry in Spain and also in other countries like Poland (origin country of part of this article) like the snack sector.

It comes off the article, that in the process of production of the fried potatoes (chips), it is necessary to have in consideration the quality and characteristic of them, that they can vary according to the rain of the origin area, composition of the floor, etc., but it is also necessary to have into account the temperature of the fry oil which should be about 180º C if we want to obtain a final good product to the palate. The most efficient way to achieve that temperature, preserving the possible maximum time the useful life of the vegetable oil used to fry, it is using indirect heat production systems, as thermal fluid heaters through white oils as heat transfer fluids.

We recommend the reading of this article for all people interested in the topic at background level.

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The white oils and their uses in the industry (II)

As I have already written in our previous blog, in this occasion we will enumerate processes in those white oils are used, being two the mainly ones:

• as heat transfer fluid in installations in those the final products are for direct human consumption ,
• as an oleic base of a final product that will be used directly by humans, and which we consider medicinal white oils.

In relation to the first topic, it is recommended the use of the white oils as heat transfer fluids in the installation of thermal fluid heaters, when the last ones are used with reactors, friers or equipments able to produce pharmaceutical products, food, etc., in order to avoid the alteration of the final product of human consumption during the production process, because of an accidental leak of a toxic thermal fluid.

According to the information that we have found, we think that there are two types of white fluids: the medicinal ones (base of products) and those used as heat transfers, both with low toxicity. If some reader agrees with the present statement, please confirm!!!!

In reference to the second subject, hereby we include a list of products in which medicinal white oils are present as base component:

Preparation of cosmetics:

- Cream, sun lotions and milks, ointments, paper impregnation, etc.
- Softening and moisturizers (oils and cleaner milks, lipsticks, powdered make-up);
- Products for children (shampoos and bathroom oils);
- Products for the hair care;
- As protective and neuter diluter for other ingredients of cosmetics, as essential oils; as anti-perspirants and deodorants in bar.

For their use in the food industry are added inhibitors of the corrosion:

- Unmolding in bakery products and pastries,
- Frying potatoes or chips, fruits as peanuts, etc… and ready or pre-cooked meals.
- Also used in treatment of rice,
- Emulsified oils for jams,
- Packaging of fruits,
- Conservation of eggs.

In the pharmaceutical industry, it has a high level of security due to:

- Their maximum purity (absence of toxic aromatic polyciclics and heavy metals),
- The complete destruction of germs in the process of production at high temperature,
- Used in specific procedures of packaging and manipulation: ingredients of the pharmaceutical ointments of topic use and petroleum jellies.
- It can be used as auxiliary element in the production of pills and in the production of capsules of jelly. The white medicinal oil is used in laxatives and liquid vaselines.

The white medicinal oils should satisfy the requirements of the regulation FDA defined in the clause 21 CFR 172.878 of the U.S.P. (USA), D.A.B. (Germany), B.P. (United Kingdom), CODEX (France) and Spanish Pharmacopea.

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The white oils and their uses in the industry (I)

The raw oils are mixtures that contain thousands of different molecules. Because these complex mixtures are difficult to identify chemically, the oils are classified, according to the type of predominant hydrocarbon and their refinery process: paraffinical and naphthenics or aromatic.

The naphthenic oils are obtained directly from the refinement of the raw petroleum and they are practically free of paraffin (they only contain a 45%). This implies a constant flow of very low temperatures, essential characteristic in several applications. To obtain "refrigeration grade" naphthenics oils, they should be put under complex physical and chemical treatments as unparaffin, bleach, elimination of sulphur, treatments with acids and solvents,...

The paraffinic oils possess a 75% of paraffin and only 25% naphthenic and aromatics.

Next, we will speak about the white oils, and their applications will be treated on the next number of this blog.

The white oil is obtained starting from paraffinic fractions of mixed base or naphthenic one, depending on the definitive use. The process is carried out for vacuum-distillation, followed by several refinement processes, included a final purification with catalytic regeneration. Their applications are specially important in products that have direct and forced contact with the human being, for what should be no toxic, not to stain and nor to contaminate.

The highest purity white oil is free of not saturated components: it is colourless due to the inert chemically nature of the hydrocarbons contained in. On the other hand, these oils are obtained with a process of hydrogenation by that the content of aromatics decreases to values smaller than 0.1%.

The white oils can be of two types: for technician or industrial use and for medicinal use.

The medicinal white oil is colourless, odourless and insipid and it has chemical and thermal great stability. It is liquid slight paraffin and an excellent lubricant that presents a good adherence and greasiness.

You can consult: www.quiminet.com.mx

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Improvements in the blog

The last days, we have been modifying the design and content of the Blog. Our objective was to improve the use of the Blog and to provide pursuit easiness to the readers. As you can see, we continue of taking advantage of the tools that the Web 2.0 model provides to us (in our opinion, the way to follow).

We have added new tools like the following:

• Fast access

• Possibility of adding blog in the favourites of the reader

• Possibility of adding blog in pages of beginning like Google or Netvibes

• To receive the new entrances by RSS with many RSS readers

• To receive the new entrances by mail

• Contact form.

And also, there are in addition 2 graphical complements:

• Album of photos

• Published videos

In order to improve mobility and access to the different existing sections within the Blog, we have positioned in the left lateral menu those sections related to the content of the Blog (published archives, categories, RSS,…) and in the right menu we have introduced those sections related to us (presentation, form of contact,…).

We hope that these changes help and make more agile east you blog. Without a doubt we are open to your commentaries, proposals and critics since we oriented blog exclusively.

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The thermal fluid transmitters of heat

PIROBLOC as specialist in the design and manufacture of thermal fluid heaters and other apparatuses that use that type of heat transmitting fluids, is today interesting to approach them to you and giving you more data on such.

Types:

The synthetic fluids fulfill the majority specific functions. Some of them have problems due to the toxicity, to the high point of freezing or the high viscosity at low temperature.
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The mineral oils fulfill with the next described requirements, a rank of application of temperatures from -10º C to 300º C and an index of viscosity in the rank 0-100 ST.

The basic requirements of any fluid are the following ones:

- They must be thermally stable to the temperature of service.
- It has to have high thermal exchange coefficients.
- The pressure of vapour at the operating temperature must be low in order that the system can work at atmospheric temperature.
- It must have a low viscosity to favour a turbulent work conditions, and at the same time, the viscosity at low temperature must be sufficiently low to favouring the cold starting.
- It does not have to be corrosive nor toxic.
- It must be safe and easy to use.

In reference to the viscosity, it is considered from two points of view: separately and its variation in reference to the temperature.
The oils have advantages in comparison with other fluid, thanks to their better relation viscosity/temperature, that it is expressed in terms of the Index of Viscosity. It is calculated by an empirical formula from viscosities at 40º and at 100º C. A high value means a small change of viscosity in relation to the temperature.

The point of freezing of a fluid measures the temperature to which the oil stops flowing by simple gravity, important factor in relation at the moment of the starting and its properties to low temperatures. In order to reduce this point, most of fluids incorporate additives.

The density is the mass by volume unit. The density is marked in kg/l or g/ml in relation to 15º C. Most of oils have values around 0.85 - 0,9.

The specific heat measures the amount of heat absorbed by unit of weight when its temperature increases one degree Celsius. The oils have values between 0.45 and 0.70 in the rank of temperature of habitual work.

The flash point is the temperature to which, with certain test conditions, a flame applied to the surface of the oil causes the ignition of the vapour but not a continued combustion. It is very important not to confuse this temperature with the temperature of combustion or self-ignition.

Once approximated a flame or spark, the combustion point is the temperature to which, in the presence of comburent air (oxygen), the flame maintains at least 5 seconds ignited. The normal values are located around 210º C.

The self-ignition point is the minimum temperature to which the thermal fluid ignites by itself, without presence of flame or spark that initiates the combustion. Logically, the presence of comburent air is necessary.

Consequently, the temperature to be considered in reference to a possible escape of thermal fluid, it is the temperature of self-ignition.
It’s necessary to have a escape, because without it, there is no oxygen in the circuit and therefore, although we reach temperatures of point of self-ignition in the close circuit, it would not be possible a combustion.

By all it, the probability of a fire in an installation of thermal fluid PIROBLOC, is practically null. The kindness of this affirmation, it comes authenticated by the effective legislation in Spain, which considers the thermal fluids like NO INFLAMMABLE LIQUIDS (B.O.E. nº 120, 20/5/82).

In reference to our thermal fluid circuits, being closed and not existing oxygen presence in them, a combustion or fire is impossible, unless there is a escape.

In the following picture we can observe the characteristic temperatures of the main thermal fluids of the market. We can observe that the maximum temperature of service (indicated by the manufacturer) and the temperatures of flash point and self-ignition do not keep a direct relation:

Please, click in the image to Zoom In.

PIROBLOC supplies the PIROBLOC-A, a thermal fluid with the following typical characteristic:
- Density at 15 ºC: 0,880 kg/l
- Viscosity at 40 ºC: 20 cSt
- Viscosity at 100 ºC: 4,5 cSt
- Viscosity index: 80/90
- Flash Point P.M.: 180 ºC
- Freezing Point: -45 ºC
- Specific Heat 50 ºC: 0,48

In our next blog, we will continue speaking about this subject with special attention to the white fluids (the unknowns by the users).

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THE WEB 2,0 AND PIROBLOC, S.A.

The appearance of Web 2,0 characterizes the change in the World Wide Web: At the beginning it was a compilation of static sites. Now it has turned a global space where the connections of broadband and the applications multimedia provide a more extensive content and one more a narrower interaction with the end user.

The present web technologies offer more complete and interactive methods to contact the end-users. Some of the services and the companies of Web 2,0 have become very known in a shortly period of time, due to change quickly the dynamics of marketing and the publicity in Internet.

One of these new platforms is the Blog (space of opinion opened to the direct communication with the reader) and in which PIROBLOC has been present for some months. Another service of Web 2,0 is the platform of videos in line, YouTube (space leader of the video online and the favourite destiny of the users of Internet to see and to share original videos anywhere in the world).

Next we invite you to see our first video on the technology of the thermal fluid done in Spain and perhaps in the world, on our boiler ATEX.



To teach and to show is today essential to share the knowledge and to open doors to possible alliances, sales, etc... And you, what do you think about?

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PIROBLOC AND ITS INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION POLITICS

The present year PIROBLOC continues its focused internationalization activity in three European markets objective: United Kingdom, Poland and Portugal.

They are very heterogeneous markets to each other, but very attractive for us, since each one in its idiosyncrasy, represents a great potential market for our product, little implanted in some of them or totally not known in some one.

In order to obtain a correct positioning in these countries, it is essential to catch the attention of end users, as well as, from possible commercial actors, and there are several ways to do it like the translation of the Website into the language, attending fairs in the country which we want to enter, maintaining the made contacts alive, publishing announcements in specialized magazines...

There are companies that extrapolate their model of commercial structure in origin and assume that it will also run in its objective countries. PIROBLOC by its type of product or by its restlessness of knowing the best possible the new markets, it studies which is the more suitable commercial figure for each market (distributors, commercial agent, opening of delegation, technical service,...) and then it acts. With this system, we do not keep awake anything new, but we are convinced that our main and matchless value, the human capital, is unique and efficient.

All we wish to conquer new markets, but also we wish that there is chemistry between our staff, our product and our clients, isn’t it?

Please, be so kind to put you in contact with us to give us your opinion or if you are interested in working with PIROBLOC, S.A.

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PIROBLOC AND THE OVERCOMMING OF THE NATIONAL MARKET IN THE METAL SECTOR

Since Internet entered in our companies, the doors of the world have been opened to us. It is clear that the conception of market has changed and the companies have changed from a local or national market to surpass their borders easily.

Therefore and under this premise, different governmental departments are promoting several subsidized programs to bring up to date and to improve our websites. Thus we will arrive more and better at our potential clients, unknown and scattered by the world. A way to take contact with these projects can be to attend the breakfast of businesses that the ICEX (Instituto de Comercio Exterior of Spain) has organized in Barcelona for next 21st February 2008. Please, find more details.

In front of the wide competition existing in Spain and in the world-wide market, PIROBLOC has consolidated its presence in all the industrial sectors thanks to internet. The Spanish companies pertaining to the metal sector, they will have to renew ideas and to watch more far if they want to survive and not to depend exclusively on the national market. We are working in it and we hope to inaugurate our new website during the 2008, more agile and actualized.

In the era of the communication in which many of our actions are subject to the rapidity and quality of the answer, this step becomes inevitable, obtaining our webs, a leading role in the company life, without precedents.

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NEW ATEX HEATER OF PIROBLOC

PIROBLOC already has in operation a new thermal fluid heater in which their components fulfill ATEX rules (for facilities in atmospheres with explosion risk). In this occasion, we have supplied again for the petrochemical sector, a thermal fluid unit which it develops a nominal power of 2.000.000 kcal/h.

Its start up in a crude extraction plant in the North of Africa, it allows to optimize the treatment of the petroleum crude in the process made between the stages of separation of high and medium pressure, which it is usually made in this type of plants.

The limit of provision in this case, has reached to the body of the heater (designed according with ASME code, as well as the expansion and collection tanks) and to the burner, the recirculation pump, the electrical panel and the motor-driven reversible pump, components all of them that fulfill ATEX rules.

With this type of special executions, PIROBLOC wondered if it would be necessary to change our external design for this special line of product or continuing with our particular and characteristic colour with which we are identified in the market...

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PIROBLOC and HOTEC ASIA 2007

PIROBLOC has taken part in HOTEC ASIA 2007, contest that took place during the first days of November in Bali. It gathered 70 suppliers of articles from all over the world for the hostelry industry and 65 hotel chains representatives, in an unbeatable environment.

In this occasion, PIROBLOC presented the line of thermal oil boilers specially conceived for the hotel sector and for industrial laundry, which got special attention of the meeting companies, due to the saving of fuel and to the greatest verified efficiency.

We bet on this type of meetings which allow the manufacturer to choose with what companies have an interview but also to assure interesting contacts for both parts.

It is important to be present in sector fairs, but we think that this type of fairs made to measure, they are the future of the international exhibitions.

And you… what do you think about?

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