ACR Journal

February | March 2021 REFRIGERANTS 26 Formulation bases of heat transfer fluids available on the market Safety / Environment: Two essential criteria when choosing a heat transfer fluid Volume 7 No.2 Heat transfer fluids are antifreeze and inhibitor-based and come in concentrated solutions for dilution with water, or as ready to use. The antifreeze protection of a heat transfer fluid is the first criterion to take into account, but it is essential to look beyond this by taking safety and the environment into consideration. Indeed, the formulation basis has an environmental impact by virtue of the source of the raw material, its production and not forgetting its biodegradability. It also has an impact on personal safety, thermodynamic systems and on their implementation (whether they are harmful or harmless). The formulation bases of heat transfer fluids determine the characteristics and physical properties used to size the installation (viscosity, compatibility, etc.) and its performance (heat exchange, bacteriostatic, etc.). The ecological footprint of an installation may be reduced by choosing a heat transfer fluid with low viscosity which minimises energy consumption. Safety/ Environme nt:two essential criteria when choosinga heat transfer fluid Formulationbases ofheattransfer fluidsavailableon themarket Heattransferfluids are antifreeze and inhibitor-basedand come in concentrated solutions for dilutionwithwater, orasreadytouse. The antifreeze protection of a heat transfer fluid isthefirstcriterion to take into account, but it is essential to look beyond this by taking safety and the environment into consideration. Indeed, the formulation basis has an environmental impactbyvirtueof Safety/ Environme nt:two essential criteria when choosinga heat transfer fluid Formulationbases ofheattransfer fluidsavailableon themarket Heattransferfluids are antifreeze and inhibitor-basedand come in concentrated solutions for dilutionwithwater, orasreadytouse. The antifreeze protection of a heat transfer fluid isthefirstcriterion to take into account, but it is essential to look beyond this by taking safety and the environment into consideration. Indeed, the formulation basis has an environmental impactbyvirtueof 1. Safety: Reading material safety data sheets (MSDS) Reading material safety data sheets is not always easy, but it is the first thing you should think about. In particular, you should look at the hazard pictograms and read the physical hazard phrases, for health and the environment (H) and precautions (P) in section 2. All the MSDS for Climalife products are available on our website and on quickfds.com Example : Extract of a MSDS for a heat transfer fluid based on MEG (image 1) and a MSDS based on MPG (image 2). 2. Safety: Toxicity and harmfulness of heat transfer fluids As seen in the examples, a number of formulation bases are available on the market. Depending on the application (refrigeration, air conditioning, heating, etc.) and the industry (food processing, construction, chemistry, etc.), the selection of heat transfer fluid must take account the toxicity of the formula. Indeed, choosing a heat transfer fluid based on MEG (harmful), will only be possible in the case of applications where there is no risk of contact with food products or substances, or sanitary water supply, even accidentally. In order to limit the impact on human health, a bittering agent is present in our MEG-based heat transfer fluids to avoid any risk of ingestion. In addition, all Climalife heat transfer fluids are nitrate- and amine-free to avoid the formation of harmful compounds such as nitrosamines. Climalife also bans the use of phosphates and borates as well as all other CMRs (Carcinogenic, mutagenic and reprotoxic agents/substances) in its formulations. 3. System Safety In order to prevent wear and attack on installation components, it is essential that the heat transfer fluid selected contains a package of inhibitors to combat corrosion and limit the risk of leakage. On the other hand, when diluting a concentrated heat transfer fluid, it is important to use demineralised water in order not to import contaminants when starting the system. The operating temperature ranges must also be adhered to. Depending on the base of the selected heat transfer fluid, this may range from -55 °C to +200 °C. Climalife o“ers a range of heat transfer fluids covering all temperature ranges. In a solar system, for example, the heat transfer fluid circulates in the primary circuit of a heating or hot water system and in solar thermal panels which may be subject to high temperatures, in particular during periods of stagnation when the system is shut down. The formulation base of bio-sourced 1,3-propanediol of the Greenway® Neo Solar N, which is very stable at high temperatures, causes only a slight deterioration in the circuits and reduces ageing. It prevents “tarring” of the sensors and circuits and increases the lifespan of the installations. At +150 °C for 150 hours, Greenway® Neo Solar N degrades 3 times slower than a 50% of Mono Propylene Glycol solution. Image 1 Image 2