Heat transfer fluids (HTF), also known as heat transfer oil (HTO) or hot oil, is used for transferring heat from a heater to an point of use such as chemical reactors or injection molding, as well as in food applications like bakeries.
HTFs are generally made from mineral oil, glycols or silicone oil. They exhibit high thermal stability in order to resist degradation with large temperature swings, as well as high heat capacity and thermal conductivity. At operating temperature they have very low viscosity, but at ambient temperatures they can be quite viscous, which is why positive displacement pumps are needed.
Positive displacement pumps are ideal for loading and makeup of cold heat transfer liquids due to their ability to handle high viscosity fluids. These pumps operate by trapping a fixed amount of fluid and forcing it through the pump, making them highly efficient for transferring viscous fluids like cold HTF. Additionally, positive displacement pumps can handle a wide range of temperatures and viscosities, ensuring safe and reliable operation for recirculation at temperature, utilizing overpressure protection to ensure safety. Their robust construction and ability to provide an easily controllable flow rate make them a preferred choice for handling heat transfer liquids in various industrial applications.
Viking pumps in heat transfer systems eliminate the need for a second loading pump, because the same pump can be used for both loading cold, high viscosity HTF and for recirculating thin, hot HTF at temperatures to 450áµ’F. Consult Viking for seal selection.