Sizing Your Temperature Control Unit

Temperature Control Units (TCU) are critical pieces of equipment used for precise process control and indirect heat transfer in diverse industrial applications. From plastic extrusion to cannabis processing, TCUs are essential for many of the products we rely on every day. In this article, we review six important factors that must be considered for the appropriate sizing of a TCU.

1 – Temperature Range

Note your application temperatures including the lowest and the highest temperatures, including upset conditions.

2 – Pump Capacity

Determine the capacity of the pump suitable for your heat transfer fluid, considering the viscosity-temperature properties of the fluid, material compatibility

3 – Heat Up/Cool Down Time

Every application is different with respect to heat up times and cool downtimes. Consult your equipment for critical startup and cooling times.

4- Exothermic Reactions

If your process gives off heat (exothermic process), you need to estimate the how amount of heat energy emitted per unit time. The TCU must be sized to account for any heat emitted, such that it maintains the temperature at a steady state.

5- Control System

Determine the most appropriate control systems for your TCU and your production . You may want to tie in your TCU with a Distributed Control System (DCS) or a Programmable Logic Controller (PLC).

6- Safety Factor

Calculate the heating or cooling capacity of the TCU and apply a safety factor of 1.2-1.3. We recommend consulting with TCU manufacturers to ensure that  you get an appropriately sized TCU