Tempco Blog articles

PCHE exchangers in hydrogen refueling stations at the Hydrogen Technology Expo

18/10/2024

To foster the innovative technology of PCHE exchangers applied in hydrogen refueling stations, Tempco is participating with our partner for PCHE printed circuit exchangers, Microchannel Devices, at the Hydrogen Technology Expo (booth A3 G50), in Hamburg on 23-24 October, to present all the benefits offered by PCHE single and multi-stream heat exchangers in hydrogen filling stations.

PCHE heat exchangers have a key role in hydrogen refueling stations, an essential asset to realize an adequate distribution network serving the diffusion of fuel cell vehicles for the sustainable electric mobility of the future. This special type of heat exchangers can work at high pressures, up to 700 bar, required for an efficient and rapid supply of hydrogen to fuel cell powered vehicles, thanks to the special diffusion bonding technique employed for their construction.

Tempco scambiatori PCHE Microchannel Devices stazioni rifornimento idrogeno Hydrogen Technology Expo Amburgo

The PCHE exchangers therefore ensure the proper heat management during the hydrogen compression cycle, guaranteeing high energy efficiency thanks to the microchannel structure of the plates while offering a very compact size, saving precious installation space in refueling stations. The extremely robust construction therefore ensures the necessary reliability to withstand the extreme operating conditions in hydrogen refueling stations.

We look forward to seeing you at the Hydrogen Technology Expo at Hamburg Messe, Germany, on 23 and 24 October at Microchannel Devices at booth A3 G50.

Tempco scambiatori PCHE Microchannel Devices stazioni rifornimento idrogeno Hydrogen Technology Expo Amburgo A3 G50
Registration and free entry ticket to the fair at the page https://www.hydrogen-worldexpo.com/.

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Cooling systems in crisis due to a very hot summer, how to react

08/10/2024

Entering the Autumn, we are leaving at our back a very sweltering summer 2024. The past one has been indeed a very hot summer season, and this extremely hot weather involved a series of critical situations for refrigerating groups and conditioning systems.

Looking more in detail at the reasons of these critical situations, firstly one would easily say, well the weather has been very hot. But refrigerating groups and conditioning systems are employed exactly when the weather is hot. The problem is that usually these refrigerating and conditioning plants are designed considering an ambient temperature for condensation of about 35° C. During the last summer, the temperature raised very often above 35° C. With peaks of 38°, 40° or even 42° C, and a very high relative humidity rate. This led to very high condensation temperatures, and thus high condensation pressures.

Machines that were not designed for such ‘tropical’ conditions, so extreme, did undergo a failure, and got blocked: blocked refrigerating groups and conditioning systems, cooling systems for industrial production in down. Clearly, if the cooling systems go down on a conditioning plant, well, there is a discomfort for people due to the heat, but not entailing a great damage.

Instead, when this happens on industrial refrigeration groups that serve industrial production processes, the problem is way more relevant. And in fact, upon request of our customers, in Tempco we are re-designing cooling systems engineered considering higher ambient temperatures. Therefore we are starting sizing refrigerating groups intended for project ambient temperatures of 40° C, aiming at ensuring the required proper working efficiency in the future. That is, if we’ll have again further summer seasons so sweltering and hot, for sure these refrigerating groups will be able to keep on functioning, ensuring the required availability.

If you are interested in discussing more in depth this topic, contact our Tempco team.

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ESG sustainability certification 2024 within the supply chain for Tempco

04/10/2024

The adoption of sustainable behaviors is as important for Tempco as supporting customers within the process industry in pursuing maximum energy efficiency, reducing the environmental impact of industrial production activities.

In our constant commitment to achieve sustainability targets, we are therefore pleased to have added the 2024 Certification issued by Synesgy for the assessment of sustainability relating to ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) in the supply chain, which we completed upon the initiative of one of our customers who requested this qualification.

Tempco 2024 ESG certification sustainability Synesgy

Synesgy, the body that issued the Certification, is a global platform for assessing ESG sustainability within supply chains. Tempco has adopted in its sustainability strategy some measures aimed at the implementation of photovoltaic, for the use of renewable energy covering the entire energy needs for the activities at its headquarters, in addition to the implementation of a paperless strategy with the digitalisation of paper documentation, reducing the environmental impact of operations.

To increase energy efficiency and well-being for the people who work in Tempco, in our offices and in the workshop, heat pumps have also been introduced, and the replacement with LED lamps has been completed for 100% of the lighting systems.

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Printed circuit exchangers PCHE for hydrogen refuelling stations at the Hamburg Messe

27/09/2024

Tempco is participating with our partner for PCHE printed circuit exchangers, Microchannel Devices, at the Hydrogen Technology Expo in Hamburg, scheduled at the Hamburg Messe in Germany on October 23-24.

After the Italian appointment with Hydrogen Expo in September and the June one with the Hydrogen Technology Expo in Houston, Texas, we are back with another European fair to present the advantages of the application of single and multistream PCHE heat exchangers in hydrogen refueling stations.

Hydrogen refueling stations are a key enabler for the widespread adoption of hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles for the sustainable mobility of the future using renewable energy. A key aspect of these stations is heat management during the hydrogen compression and distribution process. Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHE) play a fundamental role in this context, offering high efficiency and reliability, thanks to the ability to manage the gas at the high pressures imposed by this kind of applications.

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What are PCHE heat exchangers?


Printed Circuit Heat Exchangers (PCHE) are highly efficient thermal management devices used to transfer heat between two or more fluids. These innovative heat exchangers are made using the photo-etching technique on metal sheets, creating microchannels through which the fluids pass. The engraved sheets are then welded into a single block using a process called diffusion bonding, which joins the sheets at an atomic level, creating a very solid and compact structure.

The high structural robustness of PCHE exchangers therefore allows it to meet the extreme operating conditions imposed by emerging high-pressure hydrogen cooling applications, and in particular for hydrogen refueling stations.

Come visit us and discover all the benefits of PCHE exchangers for hydrogen refueling stations with Tempco and Microchannel Devices at the Hydrogen Technology Expo in Hamburg, 23-24 October 2024.

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Thermoregulation during the production phases of cosmetic creams

20/09/2024

In the cosmetic cream production sector, Tempco has supplied a series of TREG thermoregulation units to machine builders and final cosmetics producers.

A precise and fine control of the temperature in the production of cosmetic creams is indeed essential to ensure the quality, stability and effectiveness of the final product.

Tempco centraline termoregolazione TREG produzione creme cosmetiche

During the production process of cosmetic creams, temperature affects several critical phases, which include:

  • Mixing ingredients: many ingredients used in cosmetic creams, such as oils, emulsifiers and preservatives, must be dissolved or held at a certain temperature to mix properly. A careful temperature control prevents ingredients from separating or degrading.
  • Emulsification: creams are often emulsions, that is mixtures of water and oils. The temperature must be precisely controlled during the emulsification phase to ensure uniform distribution of phases and a homogeneous texture of the product.
  • Cooling: after the emulsification step, it is essential to cool the product at a controlled rate to avoid phase separation or the formation of unwanted crystals. Cooling too quickly or too slowly can compromise the consistency and stability of the cream.
  • Product stability: ensuring the proper controlled temperature during production and packaging helps to preserve the chemical and microbiological stability of the product, preventing alterations over time.
  • Safety: avoiding excessive temperatures prevents thermal degradation of sensitive active ingredients, which could reduce the effectiveness of the cream or generate potentially irritating secondary products.
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PCHE exchangers for hydrogen refuelling stations at Hydrogen Expo

10/09/2024

Let’s gonna talk again about PCHE, printed circuit heat exchangers. This week Tempco is participating at the Hydrogen Expo, in Piacenza, Italy (hosted by the MCD stand in Pav.1 Booth B118), an exhibition dedicated to the hydrogen technologies. Tempco will be present because this is a very interesting market with very interesting applications, and especially with regard to hydrogen distribution applications.

Everyone is involved in problems related to mobility and sustainability, and one of the incoming solutions for the near future is related to cars or anyway transports and vehicles using hydrogen as energy source in the powertrain. Hydrogen both as a direct source of energy for internal combustion engines or as indirect source of energy to power electric engines in electric vehicles and e-mobility solutions.

Tempco scambiatori PCHE sistemi distribuzione idrogeno refueling

In fact, we are especially speaking about hydrogen distribution stations, for the refueling of cars and vehicles powered with hydrogen, thus employing hydrogen powered engines. In particular, these distribution systems require the presence of heat exchangers in order to decrease the hydrogen temperature during the refueling operations for these kind of vehicles, cars, buses, trucks or whatever. Decreasing the hydrogen temperature and storing a high pressure volume of it aiming at lowering refueling times and to be able to store the hydrogen at the proper pressure level.

Tempco scambiatori PCHE sistemi distribuzione idrogeno hydrogen refueling stations

PCHE exchangers, thanks to their peculiar characteristics, consisting in being fully manufactured in stainless steel, completely welded, and thus constructed in a compatible material, being full-inox, these exchangers are the ideal solution for hydrogen cooling tasks.

We have seen it already in other videos focused on PCHE exchangers employed in multi-stage compressors for hydrogen and technical gases. In this case a mono-stage exchanger is employed for the direct cooling of hydrogen but with very high operating pressures.

The application is very intriguing. If you’re interested, come visit us in Piacenza at Hydrogen Expo, Pav. 1 Booth B118, or contact us.

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Importance of maintenance in plate heat exchangers and replacement of gaskets

06/09/2024

As already highlighted in a recent article on heat exchangers maintenance, regular maintenance of plate heat exchangers is crucial in order to esnure the efficiency and longevity of the system they serve. In fact, these devices play a fundamental role in temperature control within industrial production processes, transferring heat between two fluids.

However, with time and continuous use, the plates can accumulate deposits and the seals can deteriorate, compromising the performance and integrity of the entire system.

One of the key aspects of maintaining the transfer efficiency of plate heat exchangers is the replacement of gaskets. Gaskets are essential components that guarantee the tightness of the system. There are two main types of gaskets: glued and clip-on.

Tempco manutenzione efficienza scambiatori a piastre

Tempco manutenzione scambiatori di calore a piastre

Glued gaskets: these gaskets are permanently attached to the plates with an adhesive. They allow for easier on-site plate washing operations, but replacing them can be more laborious and requires careful cleaning of the surfaces before applying the new gaskets.
Clip gaskets: these gaskets are designed to be easily removable and replaceable without need of adhesives. Clip-on seals are more convenient for periodic maintenance as they can be quickly removed and replaced, reducing system downtime.

The market is now dominated by clip seals.

It is essential to carry out regular inspections to detect any signs of wear or damage to the seals, such as cracks, swelling or loss of elasticity. A compromised seal can lead to fluid leaks, contamination and heat transfer inefficiency.

In conclusion, preventive maintenance and timely replacement of gaskets in plate heat exchangers are essential to maintain optimal performance and extend the useful life of the system. Investing time and resources in regular maintenance not only prevents costly breakdowns, but also ensures efficiency and safety of industrial operations.

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Adiabatic free cooling for energy saving in the chemical industry

26/07/2024

For a main chemical group, Tempco has recently completed the supply of an adiabatic free cooling system that serves the production lines of basic products for the cosmetics industry.

The customer’s facility employs a system served by chillers, and as part of a new investment has considered to enhance the system with the integration of an adiabatic free cooling system, in order to save energy and optimize the production process. Tempco therefore provided the initial study to evaluate the effective potential impact and advantages that free cooling could guarantee to the customer, in terms of greater efficiency and energy saving.

Tempco free cooling adiabatico raffreddamento impianto chimico

Once the investment was approved, complete with the calculation of the related ROI, we supplied a dry cooler combined with the control and pumping system of the plant, in order to integrate everything with the existing refrigeration system. The solution obviously uses inverter-controlled fans, which guarantees regulation of the speed and the reduction of related energy consumption based on actual process needs.

Lastly, we have supplied a series of shell and tube exchangers for the temperature regulation of the diathermic oil, which is also achieved thanks to the free cooling system.

Tempco free cooling adiabatico impianto chimico cosmetica

Tempco free cooling adiabatico impianto chimico

Tempco free cooling adiabatico impianto chimico energy saving

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Free flow exchangers for thermal energy recovery in the textile industry

19/07/2024

Plate heat exchangers can be employed for an interesting and particular field, which is the energy recovery. And in particular, energy recovery within the textile sector, using a special kind of plate heat exchangers called free flow exchangers.

These are special plate heat exchangers with very large passage channels and without contact points among the plates, and that’s the reason why they are called free flow.

In fact, as you can see in the pictures in the video below, the channel is very large and with no contact points between the plates. This involves clearly a negative effect in terms of thermal transfer efficiency, because the thermal transfer coefficients are lowered by having these large passage channels. But otherwise these exchangers offer great advantages when working with dirty fluids or containing solid suspended particles.

This is the typical case with cooling or for energy recovery from fluids coming from the industrial process in sectors such as paper mill or textile. An interesting application of these plate heat exchangers is in the textile production, where it’s possible to recover energy from the hot water coming from the dyeing tanks for fabrics dyeing, aimed at the pre-heating of the water that is going to be used to fill the tanks. In fact, it’s possible to reuse the thermal energy contained in the waste hot water coming from the dyeing process by letting it into the free flow exchanger, using it to heat the water that will be used for the new dyeing baths.

This really is a heavy duty application where a traditional plate heat exchanger couldn’t be employed. Instead, this application can be achieved with heat exchangers having a lower transfer efficiency but offering easy maintenance and that get not clogged. Free Flow plate heat exchangers are employed in substitution of those kind of exchangers that at this point become obsolete, with in fact a low thermal transfer efficiency.

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Thermoregulation unit with diathermic oil and first start-up service in cosmetics

12/07/2024

For a customer who operates in the cosmetics sector, we completed the supply of a thermoregulation unit serving a cosmetic bases preparer. The temperature control unit employs diathermic oil at 180° C with a cooling section, and has an external probe to control the temperature in the customer’s machine, as well as an internal limit thermostat to guarantee protection of the system from overtemperatures.

The thermoregulating unit is complete with flexible pipes for connection to the utility, and is equipped with an electrical panel with interface that allows the management and monitoring of the unit by the machinery.

With the supply of the thermoregulation unit, Tempco also offered assistance with the commissioning and first start-up of the system, a type of service that customers very often require. Specifically, the customer asked for our support in the initial start-up and filling phases of the system. In fact, this is an extremely delicate and very important phase in diathermic oil thermoregulation units, as we have already underlined several times in other articles dedicated to this subject, to ensure that all the air present in the hydraulic circuit has been removed, to make sure that there are no leaks and slowly bring the system at its working temperature in order to avoid thermal shocks.

Tempco centralina settore cosmetica

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TEMPCO researches and develops systems and solutions for cooling, heating, control temperature and heat exchange in different industrial processes.

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