Food & Beverage Processing

Application

A highly efficient, non-toxic, food grade heat transfer fluid that is safe for incidental food contact in food processing plants and pharmaceutical facilities. Globaltherm FG is also Kosher and Halal certified.

About Globaltherm® FG

Made from severely hydro-treated base stocks, Globaltherm^® FG thermal fluid has outstanding thermal oxidation stability allowing operation at high temperatures for extended periods. It is non-hazardous, non-toxic, water white and odourless.

Highly efficient non-fouling NSF HT-1, FDA and USDA-Certified food grade heat transfer fluid is specified in a broad variety of industrial process applications in addition to food processing.

Globaltherm FG is also Kosher certified and Halal certified.

Globaltherm^® FG thermal fluid is a high efficiency heat transfer fluid specifically developed for non-pressurised, indirectly heated, liquid phase heat transfer systems found in food processing plants, pharmaceutical operations and other “food grade” applications that require bulk temperatures up to 326°C (619°F). FG is a mixture of exceptionally pure HT hydrocracked base oils.

 

• Globaltherm® FG thermal fluid is non-hazardous, non-toxic and odourless which means it requires no special handling and is not considered a “controlled substance” under United States OSHA, Canadian WHMIS or other work place regulations.

• Globaltherm® FG is NSF HT-1 Accredited

• The fluid is USDA CFR Title 21 178.3570 Compliant

• The fluid is also USFDA21 CR Compliant

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Parameter	Unit	Code (ASTM / ISO)	Result
Operating Range	°C (°F)	N/A	-20 to 326 (-4 to 619)
Appearance	N/A	N/A	Colourless transparent liquid with no odour.
Density @ 25°C	kg/m³	ASTM D4052	881
Kin. Viscosity 40°C	mm²/s (cSt)	ASTM D445	29.8
Kin. Viscosity 100°C	mm²/s (cSt)	ASTM D445	5.2
Flash Point PMC	°C	ASTM D93	210
Flash Point COC	°C	ASTM D92	216
Coefficient of Thermal Expansion	°C	NTR	0.00089/°C
Autoignition Point	°C	ASTM E659	350
Pour Point	°C	ISO 3016	-29
Neutralisation Nr (acid), TAN	mgKOH/g	ASTM D974	NTR
Maximum Bulk Temperature	°C	NTR	326
Maximum Film Temperature	°C	NTR	343
Boiling Point at 1013 mbar	°C	NTR	371
Average Molecular weight	NTR	NTR	350
Moisture Content	PPM	ASTM D6304	<100

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Heating and cooling products in a food and beverage processing plant often requires the use of a heat exchanger. Heat exchangers may contain heat transfer fluids that absorb excess heat energy and take it away from the product, or transfer heat energy to the product.

Applications of heat exchangers in food and beverage processing include brewing of beer, vegetable oil deodorising, food additive manufacturing, food packaging production and food preparation including baking, frying and cooking.

Heat transfer oils for food processing must be fully H1 or HT1 certified as food grade heat transfer fluids by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the NSF International. While this is not a legal requirement, auditors such as the BRC often require heat transfer fluids in food processing plants to be H1 or HT1 certified. The regulation applies to any product manufactured for human consumption, including pharmaceutical products, and is in place to ensure consumer safety in case of incidental contact with products.

If food and beverage manufacturers use a standard heat transfer fluid and there is incidental contact with a food product, the whole batch will have to be scrapped. It can be costly to dispose of products and can damage a company’s reputation if the product has to be recalled.

The DSEAR and ATEX regulations apply to every industry that uses heat transfer. Food and beverage manufacturers must also adhere to regulations specific to their application.

The distribution of food grade thermal oils is highly regulated in Europe and companies must comply with Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) and CLP regulations. These regulations refer to the classification labelling and packaging of substances.

All heat transfer oils degrade over time and the rate of degradation increases as the operational temperature increases above that of the oil’s recommended use. At high temperatures, the bonds that exist between hydrocarbon chains start to break, resulting in the production of carbon in a process known as fouling.

As the carbon concentration in the fluid increases, it starts to deposit as a sludge on the insides of pipework in heat transfer systems. Carbon is an insulator, so the build-up reduces the efficiency of heat exchange, which can be costly for business. Food and beverage processing often involve high temperatures, so it’s important to choose a thermal fluid with high thermal stability.

Food manufacturers should invest in food grade heat transfer fluids because they are hydro cracked, short chain molecules, which gives them a strong resistance to fouling, slowing their degradation.

Food and beverage processing reactions must take place at very specific operational temperatures. Therefore, a heat transfer fluid with precise temperature control is needed.

It is also important to select a heat transfer fluid with a high flash point. The flash point is the temperature at which a fluid produces enough vapour to be ignited. Therefore, the higher the flash point, the lower the risk of fire.

Global Heat Transfer has worked with food manufacturers for over 30 years to develop a thermal fluid that best suits food processing applications.

Globaltherm™ FG is an NSF HT1 accredited and authorised USDA HT1 mineral oil that can be purchased in a 1000 litre intermediate bulk container (IBC), a 208-litre barrel or in bulk. It is highly efficient, non-fouling and can operate at temperatures ranging from
-20°C to 326°C.

Compared to other mineral oils, Globaltherm™ FG has superior oxidation properties because it produces smaller carbon particles when it degrades. This means it can operate at the high temperatures required in a food and beverage processing plant for extended periods. Globaltherm™ FG also has a lower viscosity than standard mineral oils, so is easier to pump around the system.

It is colourless, odourless, non-toxic and non-hazardous, which means it does not require any special handling and is not considered a controlled substance under the United States Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA), the Canadian Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS) or other work place regulations.

If your system and fluid are not properly maintained or checked regularly, the product can be affected. For example, a food product may be cooked inconsistently, or a pharmaceutical product may not blend properly.

At this stage, the fluid has degraded. It must be diluted or completely flushed from the system and replaced, which causes expensive downtime and additional capital expenditure, both of which could be avoided with a proactive and preventative maintenance programme.

You can extend the life of your food grade fluid with help from Global Heat Transfer’s preventative maintenance programme, Thermocare. Taking samples every quarter allows you to spot any changes in the fluid and react, before it impacts the product.

To get a representative sample, manufacturers must take a hot, closed sample. This is the only way to understand the condition of the fluid when it is moving around the system.