Did you know that water is used in over 90% of manufacturing processes? In this video, we will discuss how water can be used to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and protect the environment.
Water is a vital resource for manufacturing and processing industries. The amount of water used by manufacturing and processing industries varies depending on the type of industry. For example, the food and beverage industry uses a lot of water for cleaning and processing, while the power generation, metal industry, chemical industry, Pharmaceutical and HVAC use the water for cooling, lubricating, quenching and recycling purposes.
Here are some of the benefits of using water in the manufacturing industry and HVAC:
Water is a renewable resource, which means that it can be used over and over again. This makes it a more sustainable option than using non-renewable resources.
Water is a relatively inexpensive resource, which can help to reduce the cost of operating industrial equipment or machine.
Water is non-toxic, which means that it is safe to use in industrial processes. This makes it a good option for applications where safety is a concern.
Here are some specific examples of how water is used in industrial applications:
HVAC:
In a water-cooled HVAC system, condenser water is circulated through the cooling tower, where it is exposed to the air. The water evaporates, taking heat with it. The cooled water is then returned to the condenser, where it absorbs heat from the refrigerant.
Water-cooled condensers are more efficient than air-cooled condensers. This is because water has a higher specific heat than air, which means that it can absorb more heat per unit volume.
Heat exchanger:
Water is often used as the heat transfer fluid in heat exchangers. In a heat exchanger, the hot fluid flows through one side of the exchanger, and the cold fluid flows through the other side of the exchanger. The heat from the hot fluid is transferred to the cold fluid, and the cold fluid is then heated.
Cooling towers are used in heat exchange to remove heat from a liquid by evaporating a small portion of the liquid. The evaporation of the liquid absorbs heat from the liquid, cooling it down. The cooled liquid is then returned to the heat exchanger, where it can continue to absorb heat.
Distillery:
A distillery is a facility that produces alcoholic beverages. Water is used in a distillery to extract the alcohol from the fermented mash. The mash is heated, and the alcohol vapours are then condensed into liquid alcohol.
Sugar crystallisation:
Sugar crystallisation is the process of making sugar crystals from sugar syrup. Water is used in sugar crystallisation to dissolve the sugar in the syrup. The syrup is then cooled, and the sugar crystals form.
Jacketed vessels:
Jacketed vessels are versatile pieces of equipment that can be used for a variety of purposes. The use of water in jacketed vessels can help to improve the efficiency, safety, and cleanliness of a variety of industrial processes.
The hot water from the vessel is circulated through the pipes and into the cooling tower. The cooling tower then uses the fans to draw air over the water, which causes the water to evaporate. The evaporation of the water absorbs heat from the water, cooling it down. The cooled water is then returned to the vessel, where it can continue to absorb heat.
Plastic Industry:
Water is an effective coolant and lubricant for injection moulding machines and extruders. It is also a relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly option. Water is used in the plastic industry for cooling moulds. This helps to prevent the plastic from overheating and becoming brittle.
Metal Industry:
Water is a good quenchant because it has a high specific heat and a high thermal conductivity. This means that it can absorb a lot of heat from the metal quickly. It is used in the heat treatment of metals. It is effective in rapidly cooling the metal, which can produce a variety of desirable properties, such as increased hardness, strength, and wear resistance.
Cooling towers are used in the metal industry to remove the heat from the blast furnaces, induction furnace crucibles or casting process. The recirculated water from the cooling tower is used in the metal industry for changing the properties of metals, such as hardness and strength.
In this video, we learned about the importance of water in industrial systems. We hope you found the information helpful. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for watching!