With that in mind, in this issue of Process Heating, we bring you two articles about process cooling.

By reading the first, “Selecting a Process Cooling System,” by Aimee Hall of AEC Inc., Wood Dale, Ill., you can better understand the whole picture when selecting a chiller by comprehending its parts. Factors such as style of cooling system, compressor technology used and refrigerant utilized should be considered when making a decision. Hall notes that as process cooling technology has advanced, processors have come to view mechanical chilling as a necessity rather than a luxury. She asserts that a properly designed process cooling system leads to increased production and will pay for itself in less than a year.

Also, we have “Making a Case for Chillers” from Koolant Koolers, Kalamazoo, Mich. If your process requires close temperature control, a chiller with a closed-loop cooling system is one way to cool it. Close temperature control would be desirable in applications where thermal growth of a part, die or tool could cause tolerances to change, resulting in defective products. The chiller control components used to achieve close temperature control depend on the capacity of the chiller and the number and type of refrigeration compressors utilized.

Precise temperature control doesn't only rely on proper cooling, though. Adequate, precise heating is an essential part of the process. If you need heaters, either for a new process or simply replacement units, take a look at “Get in Good Shape,” our Equipment Overview on Heaters. Bend it, shape it, touch it or blow hot air: The types of convection and conduction heaters are wide and varied, just as the processes they heat. With so many options, how do you know where to start? Use our Equipment Overview to trim your supplier search time.

Also in this issue, we have “Plate Maintenance” from ITT Standard, Buffalo, N.Y. The purpose of a plate heat exchanger is to transfer heat from one medium to another. Heat passes easily through the thin wall separating the two media from each other. But this high heat flow can be seriously reduced by the formation of deposits on the wall surfaces. This article offers help on maintenance and cleaning.

Finally, don't miss “Explaining Drying Methods,” a brief overview from Carrier Vibrating Equipment Inc., Louisville, Ky. Industrial dryers run the gamut from simple box-like units to complicated multi-phase systems. Carrier offers a closer look at fluid beds, media slurry and flash systems.

Enjoy your summer, and tackle your heat processing operations confident in the knowledge that Process Heating is here to help.

Linda Becker
Associate Publisher and Editor
BeckerL@bnpmedia.com