Process-safe Temperature Control with Natural Refrigerants

Lauda Heating and Cooling Systems, has recently manufactured a process cooling system with a two-stage cooling cascade and natural refrigerants for temperatures down to -60°C for a biopharmaceutical company in Germany.

The system is used for so-called Freeze & Thaw processes, in which active ingredients are deep-frozen in large tanks of up to 200 l volume and shipped for further processing. The process cooling system must therefore be able to cool down to -60°C with high precision.

In close consultation with the customer all specifications of the process cooling system were defined and the individual components were designed during the pre-engineering process. The customer's factory specifications also had to be taken into account, such as the use of instrumentation from certain manufacturers. The process cooling system is designed for two tanks, each with a cooling capacity of 2.2 kW. The system is also equipped with a volume flow control system to make the entire process reproducible for the customer and to safeguard it at all sites. In order to achieve the required working temperature of -60°C, the Lauda engineers rely on a two-stage cascade system. Two interconnected and coordinated compressor systems provide the required temperature by the evaporator of the first circuit cooling the condenser of the second circuit. This intelligent combination of several cooling circuits allows low temperatures down to -90°C to be reached.

In order to guarantee future-proof operation, the plant for the pharmaceutical company is operated with natural refrigerants. Lauda uses flammable refrigerants such as ethane and prophene for this purpose. The use of these gases in turn places special demands on the system. From a filling quantity of 150 g combustible gas, the use of a special gas sensor is mandatory, which monitors the tightness of the refrigeration circuits and switches off the process cooling system in case of danger. In addition, the entire refrigeration system is equipped with a ventilated housing to keep air exchange as low as possible. In the event of a leak, a fan ensures sufficient negative pressure and reliable ventilation to the outside. Lauda heating and cooling systems only use components and safety technology approved for the refrigerant in question, strictly in accordance with DIN EN 378.

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