Oil and Gas

Heat Transfer Fluids for Oil and Gas Applications

Heat transfer fluids (HTFs) are essential in oil and gas processing and are used in all phases of fuels extraction, transport, refining and recycling.

Oil and gas processing requires the use of a specific heat transfer fluid designed to work at high temperatures for prolonged periods of time.

Since oil and gas applications are often situated in remote, hard-to-reach locations, it’s also important to use heat transfer fluids with a high flashpoint to minimise the risk of explosion.

Application

The most popular high temperature, synthetic heat transfer fluid. Suitable for operation up to 345°C (653°F) and can pumped to -3°C (27°F) and delivers exceptional performance. Primary applications are chemical industries, plastics processing and biodiesel.

About Globaltherm® Syntec

  • Globaltherm® Syntec uses the hydrogenated terphenyls chemistry of the most popular high temperature liquid phase heat transfer fluid. No other heat transfer fluid delivers a higher degree of customer satisfaction.
  • Globaltherm® Syntec HTF is used in a wide variety of applications in systems all over the world and delivers ultimate performance to ensure your system is running at maximum capacity and optimum efficiency.
Product 200kg barrel
Globaltherm® Syntec (-3°C – 345°C) Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF

Find out more about the properties of Globaltherm Syntec

Contact us for more information on high temperature synthetic thermal oils

We provide advice on how to choose the most appropriate oil for your heat transfer applications and provide our customers with continued technical support.

Call us on +44 (0)1785 760555 for more information

Application

A superior high performance energy efficient heat transfer fluid suitable for use in all kinds of industrial processes.

About Globaltherm® M

Made from highly refined base stocks, Globaltherm® M thermal fluid has excellent thermal and oxidation stability allowing operation at high temperatures for extended periods.

The fluid also has efficient thermal conductivity and low viscosity, at the relevant operating temperatures, ensure high heat transfer rates requiring limited pumping energy.

Globaltherm® M heat transfer fluid provides:

  • low vapour pressures at elevated temperatures
  • greatly reduced evaporation
  • vapour lock and cavitation eliminating the need for high pressure piping and equipment

Used fluid may be disposed of through a number of environmentally acceptable methods such as used oil recycling or heavy fuels burning.

Find out more about the properties of Globaltherm® M

Product 208 Litre barrel Bulk 25 Litre 1050 Litre IBC
Globaltherm® M (-10°C – 320°C) Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF

Contact us for more information on high temperature thermal oils

We provide advice on how to choose the most appropriate oil for your heat transfer applications and provide our customers with continued technical support.

Call us on +44 (0)1785 760555 for more information

Application

Marlotherm® SH is the ideal heat transfer fluid for a range of common applications, such as chemical and plastics processing.

Marlotherm® SH high temperature heat transfer fluid is designed for use in closed loop, non-pressurised heat transfer systems. It delivers ultimate performance to ensure your system is running at maximum capacity and optimum efficiency.

 

Marlotherm® SH is a high performance dibenzyltoluene heat transfer fluid for use in closed loop, forced circulation heat transfer systems.

This non-corrosive HTF can be used in systems requiring start-up temperatures as low as -5°C without the need for heat tracing. Marlotherm® SH is recommended for use in the temperature range from 250°C (482°F) to 350°C (662°F), but can be used intermittently at film temperatures as high as 380°C (716°F).

This thermal fluid is also thermally stable up to 300°C (572°F) and has a high flash point of 200°C — one of the highest in its class.

Key facts about Marlotherm® SH

  • Marlotherm® SH has an operating temperature range of -5° to 350°C (23°F to 662°F)
  • Marlotherm®  SH HTF can be used without being pressurised
  • Marlotherm® SH is non-corrosive
  • It has a high flash point 200°C – one of the highest in its fluid class
  • • It can be used in systems requiring start-up temperatures as low as -5°C (23°F) without the need for heat tracing
Product 214kg barrel 25kg bag
Marlotherm SH (-5°C – 350°C) Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF

Choosing the correct heat transfer fluid

Thermal fluid specialist Global Heat Transfer stocks and delivers a wide range of premium quality heat transfer fluids, including Marlotherm® SH. The company also provides the complete solution for global thermal fluid supply and management.

If you want advice on how to choose the optimal heat transfer fluid for your application, get in touch by calling +44 (0)1785 760 555. Find contact details for our other offices here.

Application

Globaltherm® NF is a non-fouling, non-toxic, high performance semi synthetic heat transfer fluid specially developed for use in food processing plants and industrial heat transfer.

About Globaltherm® NF

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

This heat transfer fluid has high flash/fire points and provides extra resistance to sludging.

Globaltherm® NF properties

Product 208 Litre barrel Bulk 25 Litre 1050 Litre IBC
Globaltherm® NF (-20°C – 326°C) Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF Tick | Global Heat Transfer HTF

Contact us for more information on high temperature thermal oils

We provide advice on how to choose the most appropriate oil for your heat transfer applications and provide our customers with continued technical support.

Call us on +44 (0)1785 760555 for more information

Offshore platforms use liquid phase HTFs for heating facilities and regenerating glycols that are used to remove water from the natural gas produced. Refineries also use liquid phase heat transfer fluids to heat reboilers and columns for the distillation of oil and oil-based products.

Companies that reprocess and recycle used oils use thermal fluids in very high temperature distillation facilities, while pumping stations placed along oil pipelines use heat transfer systems to help control the viscosity of the oil moving through the line.

All oil and gas processing facilities have operating parameters specific to the application, to guide the selection of the most suitable heat transfer fluid. However, there are a few general parameters to keep in mind to select a fluid that delivers maximum efficiency for as long as possible.

The first thing to consider is thermal stability. All heat transfer oils can degrade over time, and the rate of degradation increases when the operational temperature exceeds that of the oil’s recommended use.

At high temperatures, the bonds between hydrocarbon chains start to break and produce carbon in a process called fouling. As the carbon concentration in the fluid increases, it deposits sludge into the pipes. This reduces the efficiency of the system and, if action is not taken, this sludge can obstruct the pipes and lead to serious safety hazards.

It’s important to choose a thermal fluid with a high thermal stability, which can resist high temperatures and occasional temperature peaks. This can slow down degradation and prevent the formation of sludge. It’s also important to choose a heat transfer fluid with a high flash point, the temperature at which a fluid produces enough vapour to be ignited. Over time, the molecules in a thermal fluid will break down in a process called thermal cracking, creating volatile light ends. These cause the flash point to drop, increasing the risk of fire.

In remote applications, such as offshore platforms, a fluid change can be very costly. At the same time, it’s essential that fire hazards must be avoided at all cost. For this reason, in these applications it’s essential to maintain the fluid’s normal operating conditions for as long as possible.

The Globaltherm® family of heat transfer fluids offers a broad range of products that are ideal for the oil and gas industry.

All extraction and processing plants using heat transfer fluids should operate using a proactive maintenance plan such as Global Heat Transfer’s Thermocare, which encompasses regular system analysis, fluid top-up and flashpoint and fouling management.

Additionally, the Heat transfer Fluid Sample Kit can be useful for offshore applications, which might be hard to reach for a maintenance engineer. The kit provides everything you need to draw a live, hot, circulating representative fluid sample in preparation for expert analysis, including labelled containers to return the fluid to our lab. After the analysis, a member of our technical team will contact you to discuss the results and advise you on the next steps. The Heat Transfer Sample Kit can be supplied as part of your Thermocare program.

Global Heat Transfer’s technical team has worked with engineers in the oil and gas industry for many years, specifying and supplying the correct heat transfer fluid and testing and analysing the product at regular intervals throughout the year. We provide on-site and telephone support for plant engineers to keep your system running safely and efficiently.

Do you have any more questions about thermal fluid for oil and gas applications?

Call us on +44 (0)1785 760555 for more information

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