At Enerquip, we have decades of experience designing, manufacturing, and servicing thermal fluid heating equipment and complete industrial heating systems. We have worked with companies in a plethora of industries to develop efficient thermal fluid heating technology that works for their businesses and take pride in providing high quality American made heating equipment as a leader in our field.
Over the past 30+ years, we’ve helped organizations to develop customized solutions to their industrial heating problems and offered new alternatives to plants with outdated, inefficient systems in place.
We’ve learned a lot along the way – and we do our best to share that knowledge with the clients and customers we serve.
One lesson that we have found is often learned the hard way by facility managers is the value of investing in high quality, high grade heat transfer fluid.
The Value of High Grade Heat Transfer Fluid
High grade heat transfer fluid certainly costs more than lower grade fluids – one of the main reasons why some plant and facility managers hesitate to invest in it.
But in our experience, we’ve found that both those who purchase low grade heating fluid and those who are still on the fence about whether or not to pay the higher price for higher grade heat transfer fluid often wonder: is increasing my spend on heat transfer fluid really worth it?
The answer is yes. And here’s why:
Benefits of High Grade Thermal Heating Fluid
Improved Heat Transfer Coefficient
Fluid grade can impact the heat transfer coefficient. High grade heat transfer fluid can improve the heat transfer coefficient within your heating system, which can be beneficial.
Higher Operating Temperatures
Higher grade thermal heating fluid will allow you to successfully operate your heating equipment at higher temperatures without having it break down.
Improved Equipment Performance
Most industrial heating equipment and systems operate better at higher temperatures. Since higher grade heating fluid can handle higher temperatures than low grade heat transfer fluid, you can enjoy improved equipment performance when you invest in high grade fluid.
Long Fluid Life
Higher grade thermal heating fluid may cost more, but it also lasts longer. While low grade heat transfer fluid can last as little as 3 years, high grade fluid can often last 7 to 10 years.
These key benefits make it absolutely worth it to invest in higher grade thermal fluid. From increasing equipment performance to enjoying longer fluid life, there is no question that high grade heat transfer fluids offer increased value even though they may cost more up front.
Still not convinced? If you’re planning to continue investing in low grade heat transfer fluid for your plant or facility, here’s what you can expect:
What Can You Expect from Low Grade Heat Transfer Fluids?
Clogged Heating Systems
When it comes to clogs and issues that disable your equipment and slow your facility down, low grade thermal heating fluid is often to blame. These fluids can cause clogs by depositing solids and minerals.
Frequent Heat Transfer Fluid Replacement
Low grade heat transfer fluids degrade quickly – in some cases about twice as fast as their high grade counterparts. As a result, you can expect to have to replace your thermal fluid every few years.
Facility Downtime
Fluid that degrades quickly when running through your equipment can wreak havoc. It can cause clogs that necessitate dismantling your equipment for a thorough cleaning or repair, which can cause your facility to be out of commission for weeks. Even routine fluid replacement can be time consuming.
Lost Profits
Any time you have facility downtime – which is typically more frequent when you’re working with low grade heat transfer fluid – you lose out on profitability. The productivity you miss out on when your facility is down is time you’ll never get back.
Conclusion: Investing In High Grade Heat Transfer Fluid Is Worth It
Don’t learn this lesson the hard way! Heat transfer fluid grade is very important and can powerfully impact various aspects of your business. The cost of investing in high grade fluid to keep your machinery up and running and your productivity moving forward is well worth it.
Already investing in high grade thermal heating fluid but not seeing the results you hoped for? Struggling with heating fluid burning up in your heating systems? The following articles can help you find out why this might be happening and what you can do:
Why Hot Oil Heater Film Temperature Matters – Find out how film temperature impacts the performance of your industrial heater and impacts the type of heat transfer fluid you’ll need to invest in.
Why Your Hot Oil Heater is Burning Up Your Heating Fluid (and What To Do About It) – Learn about what causes heating fluid to burn, and find out what actions you can take to prevent this from continuing at your facility.
Interested in other ways you can increase your plant’s efficiency? Check out these other helpful articles:
Why Efficient Industrial Heating is Important – An overview of the benefits of investing in heating equipment that increases your facility’s efficiency.
How Industrial Heating Equipment from Enerquip Can Save Your Facility Money – Get the details about the key features of our industrial heating system components that set us apart from the competition.
Hot Oil Heating Systems vs. Steam Boilers – Learn why those facilities still relying on steam should make the switch to a hot oil heating system.