Effective heat transfer is essential to industrial process heating. Equally important is responsive, accurate instrumentation to record and report process conditions, and a control system agile enough to respond to and manage complex thermal processes. In this issue of Process Heating, we look at technologies that help you do that in your process.

In “How to Perform Temperature Profiling in Hazardous Environments,” Keith Riley and Tim Schrock of Endress+Hauser, Greenwood, Ind., describe how temperature sensors, controls and profiling equipment work together in a symphony of control to manage critical processes. Effective temperature management of process units such as hydrofiners, fixed-bed reactors or hydrocrackers is essential for process control, increased catalyst life, efficient production and fewer process upsets.

Temperature profiling does not just mean online temperature monitoring equipment, of course. In some industries such as finishing, baking and electronics, portable thermal dataloggers are run through the heat processing equipment at regular intervals to verify the performance of the equipment. Are hot or cold spots affecting areas of the oven and preventing a proper thermal profile? If so, a part that appears to be properly cured to the naked eye can suffer premature failure. Adequate thermal profiling combined with datalogging best practices can allow processors to document full cure to customers. Learn more about datalogging using thermal profilers by turning to “7 Ways to Create Accurate Oven Temperature Profiles” by Stewart Thompson of CAS Dataloggers Inc., Chesterland, Ohio. 

Elsewhere in this issue, the benefits of using compact plate-type heat exchangers are explained in “Compact Heat Exchangers” by Klas Abrahamsson of Alfa Laval, Richmond, Va. Both gasketed and welded styles have a place in process heating and process cooling operations. In his article, Abrahamsson provides an overview of the two main types and summarizes the many configurations available.

 Also, Yong J. Kim of Webco Industries, Sand Springs, Okla., explains how utilizing corrosion-resistant duplex stainless steel tubing in place of traditional carbon steel or austenitic stainless steel can be beneficial to the performance of heat exchangers in the process industries. Selecting a material well suited to an application is as important as selecting a heat exchanger configuration that will transfer heat to and from process media effectively.

 Finally, if you are in the market for a new industrial oven, you know there are many manufacturers to choose from. However, once you factor in a given manufacturer’s experience with your thermal process, industry, desired equipment configuration and heating methods, the field narrows. Use our Equipment Overview on Ovens, which begins on page 20 in print and appears online here, to identify prospective manufacturers and get more information.