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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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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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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We enjoy making heaters.

There is nothing else gratifying that the service offered to the other ones and even if this service is given in the trust of offering the best thing.

PIROBLOC S.A. it was founded in 1977 with the only aim of developing to the maximum the technology of the thermal fluid heaters and their application in all the industrial sectors. Located 15 km far from Barcelona, PIROBLOC has its own engineering department, two plants of production and commercial office, as well as specialized staff who offer the possibility to make the installation, start up and maintenance. Turn-key projects.

PIROBLOC S.A. works in all the processes where it is necessary indirect heat and it has a wide experience in all the industrial sectors. Around 950 facilities over the world and the satisfaction of our clients are our best guarantee of the good job made during these 30 years.

We invite you to consult the wide variety of industrial sectors and products in those we can collaborate with you. And we encourage you to trust in a professional and enthusiastic team.

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