SPECIFIC CONTEXTS REQUIRE SPECIFIC SOLUTIONS

During our 30-year experience we have tested different material combinations to meet the needs of our customers linked to specific contexts in which our units are installed.

Following you will find some examples of contexts and working processes that may be corrosive for the plants and their components, which therefore require a combination of specific materials.

Finding the right solution for the environment in which the units are installed allows you to identify technologies and materials that have a positive impact on their durability. A useful longer life of the products also affects costs in the long run.

The correct solution to the specific needs linked to the environment and the area of use also reduces the consumption of materials, refrigerants and energy sources. A more sustainable plant is a value, both for the customer who can reduce costs and for the environment.

The air cooled units used in the market of Air Conditioning, Refrigeration and Industrial Applications are typically installed outside in a remote location, (for example roofs, yards, etc.) and therefore are subjected to all environmental characterizations.

There are several regulations that define a classification of external environments. The main categories are:

• rural area;
• urban area;
• coastal area;
• industrial area;
• coastal-industrial area.

These areas, in turn, can be further divided, as they can create specific micro-environments, which are the sum of one or more of the above mentioned.

In addition to these classifications, there are also further burdensome situations due to the significant presence of pollutants such as e.g. SOxes typical of climatic zones with intense presence of acid rain (eg northern Europe) or areas near volcanoes etc.

All these pollutants can significantly change the pH of the environment, making the deposits on the units extremely corrosive.

Another factor to take into consideration is the TOW (time of wetness), that is the amount of time when there is a constant presence of humidity above 80% with a temperature above 0 ° C.

These are only some examples of environmental situations that require an in-depth analysis of the installation before making a technical choice.

Moreover also the instructions on the methods of maintenance and cleaning must be taken into consideration in the following cases:

• after shipment of the units by sea
• during operation of the unit in particularly dirty places

The correct definition of the corrosive environment directly impacts on the choice of the materials of the exchanger, of the structure and of the fans to be used.

All above mentioned factors highlight the importance of the initial technical choice of the unit materials.

It is essential to keep in mind the corrosive aspects linked to the installation site and the use and application method.

ThermoKey offers a wide range of technical solutions able to respond to different application needs.

For example it is possible to manufacture both standard copper-aluminium units with several protective treatments (cataphoresis, blygold, heresite…) and entirely stainless steel units. The choice between these different technical solutions impact both thermodynamic aspects and costs.