Because most chemical reactions are either exothermic (release heat) or endothermic (heat is absorbed), reliable temperature control is of vital importance to the chemical industry. For process engineering in particular, precise and consistent temperature control for individual process steps is key.

Areas of application and procedures of process engineering

Process engineering draws on chemical, biological and physical processes. It initiates material changes and forms an interface between natural sciences and manufacturing.

Process engineering includes the optimization of established methods and their process steps in addition to the development of new techniques and materials. Recycling, and thus the recovery of valuable resources, is also becoming increasingly important.

Temperature control in process engineering

In the chemical industry, many processes are linked to temperature or can be supported through the use of specific temperature controls. One example from process engineering is continuous temperature control for dispensed media. The dosing device, supply tank, material lines, and pumps can be heated to maintain the required viscosity. Optimum temperature control of the cast material makes processing easier and faster. To stabilize a given process, temperature control systems must react quickly and steadily to changes.

Dynamic compensation for exothermic or endothermic chemical reactions places great demands on the highly dynamic temperature control systems of the Presto series.

Presto temperature control systems must ensure rapid compensation, especially when those reactions occur in extreme temperature ranges. This not only ensures an efficient and consistent result, but also the safety of the process.

Reactor temperature control

In both chemical and biological processes, the conversion of materials often takes place in reactors. This requires temperature control systems capable of compensating quickly and accurately over a broad temperature range. PRESTO temperature control systems react to temperature changes inside the reactor in a highly dynamic manner, swiftly compensating for them and automatically adjusting back to the optimum range. The choice of temperature control system is influenced by the reactor type, size, and material (e.g. glass or metal), the wall thickness and thermal conductivity associated with the material, as well as the process to be temperature controlled. Pump capacity, pressurization, heat exchange rates, and the efficiency of components in the temperature control system must cover the respective requirements exactly. This is the only way to ensure process reliability and effective material conversion. JULABO develops specially adapted temperature control solutions for requirements that deviate from standard. In many cases, however, this is not necessary since available PRESTO temperature control systems can be easily adapted to specific requirements using the corresponding accessories.

From lab scale to large-scale plant

The requirements on PRESTO temperature control systems also depend on their area of application. Performance and speed of response, as well as a broad working temperature range and the ability to switch as needed between applications, are all crucial when developing new methods in the lab. This means that temperature control systems can be used in a wide variety of applications without issue. Aspects such as the size and mobility of the unit, water or air cooling, and the clever arrangement of connections and ventilation slots are crucial when it comes to deciding if a temperature control system is suitable in practice on a day-to-day basis. In large-scale industrial use, the focus is on consistent performance with low maintenance and high energy efficiency. Since these devices are mostly used to control the temperature of a single process, a lower dynamic range may be sufficient.