Efficient cooling and temperature control by technotrans at Fakuma

At this year’s Fakuma, technotrans will be presenting future-proof cooling systems with the natural refrigerant R290. In the field of temperature control the thermal management specialist is delivering further increases in energy efficiency and functionality for its users with its new devices.

“We are making increasing use of R290 as a natural refrigerant in our systems and will be presenting new high-performance devices with this environmentally friendly solution at Fakuma,” says Nicolai Küls, managing director of technotrans solutions GmbH. The global warming potential – the so-called GWP value – of R290 is three, making it much lower than the figure for numerous other common refrigerants. “This makes investment in such a system not only future-proof against the background of the regulation on fluorinated greenhouse gases, but also sustainable. At the same time users benefit from a government subsidy – in total, therefore, the cost of procurement pays for itself very quickly,” emphasises Küls.

At the trade fair for plastics processing, technotrans’ presentations will include a new refrigeration unit line with cooling capacities of 100 to 1,500 kW. The systems have a highly efficient compressor and shell-and tube evaporator with one or two redundant refrigeration circuits. The use of an electronic expansion valve in combination with a screw compressor with stepless control means that these refrigeration circuits have gliding condensation temperature control. “This means that the refrigeration unit operates with optimum efficiency at all times, regardless of the available outside temperature,” explains Küls. The result is an exceptionally high EER value (Energy Efficiency Ratio) of up to 7.5.

Temperature control: Pump efficiency saves energy

For the new compact teco- temperature control units, technotrans has put the main focus on the design. With a standardised housing and controller concept along with a reduction in the number of variants, the company provides more clarity, transparency and structure in its portfolio. A total of four device series’ (base.line, high.line, eco.line and flex.line) are available with different power levels and configurations.

“The central element of the new compact temperature control units is the pump efficiency module (PEM). Integrated in the housing, it is the most important component with respect to energy saving,” says Küls. Other features of the highly standardised devices are temperatures ranging from 95°C to 180°C, heating capacities of 9 to 36 kW and flow rates of 60 l/min to 230 l/min. All device variants have a small footprint and a hinged control cabinet front for optimum access. The systems are available with an OPC-UA interface as an option, which ensures the intelligent interconnection of all components involved in the production and processing process as well as trouble-free communication.

Live applications at the company’s own stand and at partners

Visitors can experience the technotrans innovations in the form of live applications not just at the thermal management specialist itself at the trade fair but at business partners there as well. For instance, at the technotrans stand a hook made of ABS material will be produced on an injection moulding machine from Dr. Boy with a cycle time of 40 seconds. This features the latest temperature control units of the teco ci 95 eco.line series with integrated itd evo water distributor.

To be seen on the trade fair stand of Dr. Boy is a teco ci 95 ci 95 eco.line 60 with OPC-UA connection. Visitors will find other exhibits at Reinhardt Technik, where a teco cw cools a live application, as well as at KraussMaffei. Here a stainless steel version of a weco with the natural refrigerant R290 fulfils the same task. Further applications are planned by the time the trade fair starts.