Journal of Austrian Chemistry

Journal for the Chemical Industry in Austria

Archives for February 2019

Process-safe temperature control witch natural refrigerants

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The current EU regulation on fluorinating greenhouse gases has been in force since 2015. This means that it has been decided to gradually restrict the quantities of partially fluorinated hydrocarbons available on the market until 2030. Operators and manufacturers of refrigeration systems are now clearly aware of the consequences of this legislation. Not only has the availability of traditional refrigerants fallen significantly, but the demand for future-proof systems using natural refrigerants has also risen significantly. LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems, the industrial division of the world market leader for temperature control units and systems, has been working intensively on this topic for more than five years – and recently manufactured a process cooling system with a two-stage cooling cascade and natural refrigerants for temperatures down to -60 °C for a biopharmaceutical company in Germany.

LAUDA HKS systems for freezing processes

The process cooling system is controlled via a PLC control system, which allows, among other things, simple connection to higher-level processes and individual adaptation to customer requirements. | Credit: LAUDA

The globally active customer, one of the largest research-based pharmaceutical companies in Germany, has ordered a process cooling system from LAUDA Heating and Cooling Systems. The system is used for so-called Freeze & Thaw processes, in which active ingredients are deep-frozen in large tanks of up to 200 l volume and shipped for further processing. The process cooling system must therefore be able to cool down to -60 °C with high precision.

In close consultation with the customer all specifications of the process cooling system were defined and the individual components were designed during the pre-engineering process. The customer’s factory specifications also had to be taken into account, such as the use of instrumentation from certain manufacturers. The process cooling system is designed for two tanks, each with a cooling capacity of 2.2 kW. The system is also equipped with a volume flow control system to make the entire process reproducible for the customer and to safeguard it at all sites. In order to achieve the required working temperature of -60 °C, the LAUDA engineers rely on a two-stage cascade system. Two interconnected and coordinated compressor systems provide the required temperature by the evaporator of the first circuit cooling the condenser of the second circuit. This intelligent combination of several cooling circuits allows low temperatures down to -90 °C to be reached.

Flammable refrigerants require special sensor technology

In order to guarantee future-proof operation, the plant for the pharmaceutical company is operated with natural refrigerants. LAUDA uses flammable refrigerants such as ethane and prophene for this purpose. The use of these gases in turn places special demands on the system. From a filling quantity of 150 g combustible gas, the use of a special gas sensor is mandatory, which monitors the tightness of the refrigeration circuits and switches off the process cooling system in case of danger. In addition, the entire refrigeration system is equipped with a ventilated housing to keep air exchange as low as possible. In the event of a leak, a fan ensures sufficient negative pressure and reliable ventilation to the outside. LAUDA heating and cooling systems only use components and safety technology approved for the refrigerant in question, strictly in accordance with DIN EN 378.

Each step of the project was closely coordinated with the client. The use of natural refrigerants does not have any disadvantages for the customer. Refrigerants from the range of hydrocarbons are inexpensive and, from an energy point of view, often more efficient than conventional F-gases or synthetically produced substitutes. For the engineers and designers of LAUDA heating and cooling systems, process cooling systems of this kind are an important step into the future. The demand for industrial solutions with natural refrigerants will continue to rise as the shortage of traditional refrigerants increases.

TEKA: New VAC series as high efficient welding extractors

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The so-called “VAC-Cubes”,with a pressure of 20,000 to 36,000 Pa, which can remove an air volume of 210 to 1,050 m³/h, represent the latest addition to the range of the manufacturer of extraction and filter units. With their enormous extraction power, the VAC-Cubes meet the latest international standards of modern torch welding extraction. Due to its high pressure, the VAC series is predestined for continuous use in the high-vacuum range and is primarily suitable for extraction of smoke from welding torches at welding workstations. In line with the new requirements on the European market, it combines maximum user safety, enormous extraction capacity and energy-saving operation.

Depending on the requirements and work area, the various models of the series can be used as a single workplace solution or as a multi-user solution for up to ten workstations in single-shift or multi-shift operation and are therefore suitable for use in small and medium-sized companies. The VAC models in their numerous variants are also convincing due to their high functionality: They can be assembled in a short time without great effort, are easy to operate, compact and can be combined with a large number of standard torch types.

The VAC CUBE 30

And this is how the VAC-Cubes work: The polluted air is conducted directly from the source of emissions, i.e. the welding gun, to the filter unit. The extraction unit with a robust side channel blower is equipped with automatically cleanable PTFE membrane filter cartridges whose status is displayed by control elements in real time. Rotating nozzles ensure effective cleaning of the filters and long filter life. The separated particles are disposed of in an easily removable nylon bag.

The VAC series can be optionally equipped with a frequency converter for greater energy efficiency. The units that have a pressure sensor in the pipeline automatically compare the current vacuum value of the production line to the preset value in the software and control this via the frequency converter. When the vacuum drops, the rotation rate of the motor is increased by means of the frequency converter. In the opposite case, the rotation rate of the motor is reduced. This fully automatic system makes it possible to maintain a constant vacuum at all suction points and thus to significantly reduce energy consumption.

“Due to the high pressing, the easy operation and the variety of variants, the VAC series offers us the possibility to meet the increasing demand for a powerful extraction from welding torches, especially from France, Germany and the Netherlands”, Simon Telöken explains satisfied. After the innovation premiere and market launch at EuroBlech 2018 last autumn, the manufacturer is already pleased about the increasing sales.

AGRANA sweetens BIOFACH 2019 in Nuremberg

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The Austrian fruit, starch and sugar company AGRANA has been presenting its diverse product range at the BIOFACH event (13 – 16 February 2019), the world’s leading trade fair for organic foods, in Nuremberg, Germany for more than ten years. AGRANA’s organic product portfolio ranges from fruit preparations for the dairy, bakery and ice cream industries to fruit juice concentrates, customised products, infant formulae and top quality sugar products. The quality of all of these products is subject to a strict system of controls extending from crop farming to the finished product. In its three business segments, AGRANA supplies both local producers and large international players in the food processing industry.

“The global trend towards organic products continues unabated. Austria is the world leader in terms of the share of organic farming. As a pioneer of top-quality organic food ingredients, we at AGRANA see this as good reason to intensify our efforts to further extend our organic offering,” AGRANA CEO, Johann Marihart emphasises.

Discover AGRANA

In order to offer fans of organic food a chance to discover AGRANA’s broad product range with all of their senses, a professional chef will this year be preparing traditional dishes, such as Kaiserschmarrn, as well as trendy vegan and gluten-free dishes, in an open kitchen. (Hall 1, Stand 1-565)

About AGRANA

AGRANA adds value to agricultural commodities to produce top quality foodstuffs and numerous industrial upstream products. Around 9,400 personnel working at 60 production facilities worldwide generate consolidated annual revenues of around € 2.6 billion. The Group was founded in 1988, is the global leader in fruit preparations and also a major producer of fruit juice concentrates in Europe as well as being a key manufacturer of customised starch products and organic ethanol in its Starch segment. AGRANA is also one of today’s leading sugar companies in Central and Eastern Europe.

Dr. Gottlieb to present XBiotech’s research on Hidradenitis

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XBiotech announced today that Dr. Alice Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D., will be giving the presentation “Bermekimab Shows Efficacy for Treating Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS), Including Marked Reduction in Pain” during the afternoon session on March 2nd, 2019 at the American Aacademy of Dermatology annual meeting being held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.  The presentation, which was accepted as “late-breaking research: clinical trials,” will provide details of the Company’s recent Phase II clinical trial results in 42 HS patients that received 400mg subcutaneous weekly doses of bermekimab in a 12-week treatment regimen.

The study involved two treatment groups of subjects: those who had failed prior anti-TNF therapy (n=24); and those with no prior anti-TNF treatment history (n=18). 

The study’s Chair, Dr. Alice Gottlieb, M.D., Ph.D., Clinical  Professor of Dermatology, Department of Dermatology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY, NY, commented, “I am looking forward to presenting these very exciting results for a new drug that can help address a significant unmet need for patients suffering from hidradenitis suppurativa.”

A major finding in the study was a significant treatment-related reduction of pain in the HS patients. Pain is widely recognized among experts as a key objective for HS treatment, but this symptom has been largely unaddressed by available approved therapies. No approved monotherapy for HS has shown a significant effect on pain1.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, inflammatory skin disorder affecting areas rich in apocrine glands. Nodules appear in the affected areas and progressively become swollen with spontaneous rupture and release of pus. This process occurs repeatedly leading to formation of deep sinus tracts and painful dermal abscesses. Pain is a paramount condition in patients suffering from HS, as this chronic inflammation and accompanying pain account for the fact that HS is ranked first among skin disorders in terms of adversely affecting quality of life. The global prevalence for HS is estimated at up to 4% of the population.

Header Photo Credit: Dermatology World