History

History of product development

The development work of the new heat transfer fluid was market-oriented. New systems are vulnerable to propylene glycol’s poor flow and heat transfer features under cold circumstances. In many cases ethylene glycol cannot be used, because of its toxicity, and salt solutions often cause difficult corrosion problems. We aimed at developing a heat transfer fluid with a wide operating temperature range, good corrosion properties, less toxicity than ethylene glycol, and better heat transfer characteristics than propylene glycol. The research and development work resulted in Thermera.

Thermera was tested at laboratories and application sites during the period 1995-2000, and the product was launched on the Finnish market in autumn 2000. The other nordic countries and Germany and the Benelux saw Thermera launch in 2002.

Thermera®

Thermera is a new environmentally acceptable heat transfer fluid, which is excellent for building HVAC systems, food and refrigeration technologies, and for industrial heat transfer needs. Thermera is a mixture of ion-exchanged water and betaine, completed with non-toxic additives. Betaine, or trimethylglycine, is a natural product, which is a by-product of the sugar manufacturing process. The natural raw material makes the end product environmentally very acceptable. Betaine is used in several products of the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. As a chemical, it has been known for decades. Thermera’s thermal performance has been proved to be of the same class as that of the conventional heat transfer fluids. Thermera offers the advantages of non-toxicity, water solubility, and excellent cold-flow and anti-corrosive features.

Thermera and environmental features.

Thermera has top-quality environmental features, which provide it with a wide operating range. The first areas in which Thermera’s technical suitability has been proved are various HVAC building systems, and food and refrigeration technologies. Other suitable objects of use are being developed. Thermera and the operating range See item 4. Uses of Thermera.