Renewable energy sources
Regardless of whether your system uses wind, solar or geothermal energy to generate energy, you're helping the world make the transition to a 100 percent use of renewable energy sources. Already almost a fifth of the energy used for heating and cooling in the EU comes from renewable sources1.
Clariant's Antifrogen® fluids support the safe and sustainable operation of solar thermal systems, geothermal pumps and wind turbines.
Solar thermal collectors are based on the principle of absorbing sunlight and transferring heat, which is then absorbed by a heat transfer fluid and used for water heating. For optimum performance, you need not only an absorber with high heat capacity but also a high heat capacity fluid that can withstand the stresses of extremely high temperatures during the day and low temperatures at night and does not freeze in winter.
Our toxicologically harmless fluids based on monopropylene glycol or higher boiling glycols for highly stressed systems are always in motion to protect metal components from corrosion over a long period of time and virtually eliminate the risk of burst pipes. Our portfolio allows you to operate at constant temperatures from -50°C to 200°C (up to 270°C for short periods). If required, we also offer special cleaning agents for solar thermal systems.
In near-surface geothermal applications, the selection of the right heat transfer fluid is crucial for safe operation. Clariant's monoethylene glycol-based Antifrogen GEO provides long-term protection against frost, corrosion and limescale for heat pump installations. This is important for installations where a household can save between 30-60 % of electricity consumption compared to conventional heating and cooling systems2.
Wind power is now one of the fastest growing industrial segments in the world. Wind turbines typically have an energy payback time of several month3,4. However, the sheer size of a turbine and its inaccessibility, especially offshore, pose significant maintenance challenges for operators. We are proud that our heat transfer fluids facilitate trouble-free and low-maintenance operations. They help to keep the rotor blades turning by cooling the generator and providing long-term protection against frost and corrosion so that electricity can continue to be generated efficiently.
Discover the potential of more sustainable renewable energy systems:
- Solar thermal systems
- Geothermal heat pumps
- Cooling of frequency converters in wind turbines or photovoltaic power stations
Products
1 http://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php/Renewable_energy_statistics Date extracted June 2018
2 https://geothermalcommunities.geonardo.com/elearning/chapters, see chapter 5
3 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wind_power
4 https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windenergie#Nachhaltigkeit