Lasers have become ubiquitous tools in the industrial space. Since being invented in the 1960s, the laser’s ability to cut, mark and bind tough materials has only strengthened. With these improvements, lasers have become a crucial component when making many everyday products.

Industries across the manufacturing spectrum — whether producing beverages, dairy products, petroleum, chemicals, plastics or electricity, to name a few — generate heat as a byproduct of the manufacturing process.

When most hear the terms “Internet of Things” or “IoT,” they think of readily available gadgets that can remotely control their home’s climate, play their favorite songs or automatically adjust their backyard smoker based on the temperature of the brisket.

Many processes contain dirty gas streams that need to be cooled and cleaned prior to the next step in the process. This article will look at directly cooling these streams and methods for effectively removing contaminants from dirty gas streams.

IIAR’s Natural Refrigeration Conference & Heavy Equipment Show, an annual event that combines three days of exhibitions with a full conference program focused on natural refrigeration using ammonia and carbon dioxide, was cancelled on March 11 due to the worldwide pandemic, COVID-19.

Finding just the right heat exchanger for your specific process cooling application sometimes can be an intimidating task.

Refrigerant tracking and compliance software is available for free with full-feature capabilities and unlimited users, sites and refrigeration assets. Bacharach’s Parasense cloud-based software tracks refrigerant usage, leak inspections and leak events. It also provides compliance reporting for EPA 608, CARB, F-Gas and GreenChill.

Nikkiso Cryogenic Industries’ Clean Energy and Industrial Gases Group, a subsidiary of Nikkiso Co., closed the acquisition of the Alternative Fuels Division (AFD) from GP Strategies Corp. of Columbia, Md. GP Strategies’ AFD focuses on the design, fabrication and maintenance of liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied to compressed natural gas (LCNG), compressed natural gas (CNG) and hydrogen (H₂) facilities.

Johnson Controls broke ground on an expansion of its air-handling unit manufacturing facility in Hattiesburg, Miss. The 22,000 ft² expansion will create approximately 50 new assembly jobs to boost production. The facility, which manufactures York and Miller-Picking brand systems, is increasing its footprint in response to growing demand for custom air-handling units.

IIAR is offering the Academy of Natural Refrigerants — Specialist (ANR-S) certificate program, a comprehensive online course of study that will lead to a new industry credential for professionals working in the refrigeration industry.

Parker Hannifin Corp. is expanding its research and development capabilities in the field of advanced hollow-fiber filter membranes at the Parker Filtration Innovation Center in Columbia, Tenn. The research will improve membrane technology for applications within the food and beverage, life sciences, water purification and gas generation industries.

Spig S.p.A. (SPIG), a subsidiary of Babcock & Wilcox Enterprises, has been awarded a contract by Renaissance Heavy Industries to design and supply fin fan cooler heat exchangers for the Turkmenenergo 432 MW gas turbine power plant project in Turkmenistan.

Xylem expanded its pump portfolio to include e-MP multistage ring section pumps, e-XC single-stage, double-suction centrifugal pumps and larger vertical turbine pumps. The pumps are designed to address issues in industrial pumping and processes, including minimizing downtime and environmental impact, and boosting and transporting water as efficiently as possible.

Delta T Systems donated a 2-ton variable speed air-cooled chiller to the Plastics Engineering Technology program in the Department of Engineering Technology at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kan. The chiller will be used as part of the school’s program to help students gain detailed technical knowledge and skills.

Evaporative cooling towers are one of the best long-term solutions for industrial cooling challenges. They offer advantages when compared to a dry cooler, notes one manufacturer. In a white paper, Gary Dicker, the director of DHD Cooling, offers his view on the two cooling technologies.

A M King, an integrated design-build firm, is making progress on a renovation project for U.S. Waffle Company Inc. in Liberty, S.C. The 310,000 ft² bakery will house five production lines with capacity for nine lines. When the project is complete in March 2020, the company plans to hire 125 additional employees.

Bridge Development Partners LLC and PGIM Real Estate, the global real estate investment management business of Prudential Financial, launched a $150 million cold storage investment program. The joint venture will seek value-add returns through the development of Class A cold storage facilities, as well as the acquisition and repositioning of Class A/Class B cold storage developments across the United States.

Nucor Corp. acquired TrueCore LLC, an insulated metal panel manufacturing company with a facility in Laurens, S.C. TrueCore produces insulated metal panels serving the cold storage market, with future plans for additional industrial applications.

Americold Realty Trust acquired Newport-St. Paul Cold Storage (Newport Cold), a 6.1 million ft³ temperature-controlled storage facility located in St. Paul, Minn., for $56 million. Newport Cold’s facility contains approximately 26,000 pallet positions and offers 3 acres of adjoining land available for expansion.

Construction of two refrigerated distribution facilities for Lineage Logistics LLC in Vernon, Calif., has been completed. Design-build firm Stellar handled the renovation of a single cold storage building that Lineage acquired into two adjoining facilities with refrigerated storage and office space.

Due to a smaller heat exchanger in the Tempro Series, there is less circulating water. As a result, the preheating and cooldown periods are shorter, says the manufacturer.

CleanAire filters are designed to be mounted inline in the exhaust ducting from a fume hood or contaminant source up to 1500 cfm. The HEPA and carbon filter packs include a galvanized-steel housing with hinged and gasketed access door to ease filter change-out. Molded-composite resin inlet and outlet plenums and duct-connection collars are sized to meet specification.

Designed for indoor, outdoor, remote and washdown applications that require a closed-loop system to protect electronics, PKS Series can be used to cool sealed enclosures and is suited for cooling industrial electrical components that need dust protection.

Designed for toolless installation and quick filter replacement, Hoffman Type 12 HF Filter Fan incorporates time-saving features. Offered in a range of sizes, the filter fan line has a click-fit design to provide quick installation into the enclosure wall. 

The intelliGen is a factory-mounted electronic control solution for evaporators that provides automatic superheat adjustment, temperature control and intelligent defrost control capability for walk-in coolers and freezers. 

Intended for the food and beverage insutry, and formulated to meet 21 CFR 178.3570 incidental-food contact requirements, Vilter 717 offers good thermal, oxidative and hydrolytic stability.

Heater/chiller units offer configurability and compactness via a single combined package. The integrated system saves space because both circuits are contained in one cabinet and are managed by a single controller.