Heat transfer fluids are often taken for granted, despite their importance. Incomplete knowledge about their selection and maintenance often results in premature fluid degradation. The implications of a poorly selected or an improperly managed heat transfer fluid can be far-reaching when one considers associated equipment downtime, high maintenance costs, and safety risks. This article will review solutions to common heat transfer fluid problems, such as oxidation, thermal cracking, and fluid contamination.
Before appropriate solutions can be offered, it is important to adequately diagnose the root cause(s) of thermal fluid degradation. One of the best ways to do this is through a heat transfer fluid laboratory analysis. Several parameters that tell us about the general health and operational status of a heat transfer fluid sample are measured, including the fluid’s flash point, viscosity, and total acid number (TAN), amongst others. Plant managers and operators are beginning to recognize the importance of periodic fluid analysis in the preventive maintenance of heat transfer fluids.