Gases such as water vapor, nitrogen, argon, helium and hydrogen have been used as heat transfer fluids where liquids are not suitable.
In case of liquid heat transfer fluids, usage of their small quantity will result in their vaporisation which can be dangerous for the equipment where they are used.
Key characteristics include: Heat transfer fluids are integral to various industrial applications, enabling precise temperature control in manufacturing processes.
They are also critical in petrochemical synthesis and distillation, oil and gas refining, and for converting materials in presses and laminating operations.
[3] In solar power plants, heat transfer fluids are used in concentrators like linear Fresnel and parabolic trough systems for efficient energy generation and thermal storage.
Molten salts and synthetic heat transfer fluids are utilized based on their ability to function at various temperature ranges, contributing to the generation of electricity and the manufacturing of polysilicon for photovoltaic cells.
These fluids assist in the purification and cooling steps of polysilicon production, essential for creating high-purity silicon for solar and electronic applications.
[5] An oil that is initially more expensive may prove to be more cost-effective in the long run if it offers higher thermal stability, thereby reducing the frequency of replacement.