Reclaiming cooling fluid

THE RECLAIMING OF GLYCOL FLUIDS:
USED COOLING LIQUID (UCL)
OR
USED HEAT TRANSFER FLUIDS (Used HTF

Life EnvironnementAIn cooperation with the European Union within the framework of the LIFE ENVIRONMENT programme.

 

DESCRIPTION

THE PRINCIPLE consists in :

Offering a clean and energy-saving process for reclaiming glycol fluids referred to as: Used Heat Transfer Fluid (Used HTF) or Used Cooling Liquid (UCL)

The product :
Heat transfer or cooling liquids are made up of water, glycols and corrosion inhibitors. The latter become worn out during the life of the product and therefore become acid. This liquid is then referred to as Used Heat Transfer Fluid (Used HTF) or Used Cooling Liquid (UCL) and classified as Hazardous Industrial Waste (HIW).
The waste code for these products is 16 01 14 according to the French decree n° 2002-540 concerning the “classification of waste” published in the JO on 18th 2002 by the Ministry of Land Management and the Environment.

Sources :
Used HTF and UCL are used in the following sectors

  • The automobile industry: cars, trucks, buses…
  • Public Works: heating systems, with or without hot water production, air conditioning, fire water systems, cold water systems, solar heating panels, construction equipment…
  • Aviation: anti-icing and de-icing fluid for planes
  • Railways: thermal-storage locomotives, air conditioning systems …
  • Industry: cooling circuits for industrial processes, presses …
  • Agriculture: wine making …
    (non-exhaustive list)

The situation today :
Part of the Used HTF and UCL on the French market (65,000 tonnes/year: heating, automobiles, industries…) is not transformed into waste fluid because the used product is not always completely drained but topped off with new fluid.
An important quantity of discarded HTF and UCL can be found in waste water, rivers or the soil due to illicit dumping.
However the quantities of Used HTF and UCL are on the rise since 6,000 to 8,000 tonnes were collected in 2003. These Used HTF and UCL are often eliminated through evapo-incineration, a process which consumes a great deal of energy considering that the product contains 70% polluted water.


A new process :
PCMB has developed a new process that consists in separating the water, glycols and waste (used inhibitors, alloy residues, corrosion products) through distillation and ultrafiltration. Thus 95% of the quantities treated can be reclaimed for the manufacture of new heat transfer or cooling fluids.

About PCMB :
Created in 1950, PCBM is a company subject to prefectorial bylaws that has the necessary storage, distillation and filtration facilities for recycling. Since the company was founded PCBM has worked with heat transfer and cooling fluids.

  • Refining of glycols
  • Manufacture and commercialisation of industrial and household antifreeze.

Its experience, technical know-how, and facilities make PCBM a recognised specialist in this sector. Moreover, PCBM has worked since 1992 on this project and is leading the way in reclaiming used HTF and UCL. This process is fully developed and many tests have been carried out on a wide variety of products. The treatment capacity of our facilities will be 6,000 tonnes per year and the cost will be competitive because reclaiming will eliminate pollution taxes. Our facilities at Passy (prefectorial permit n° 99-1990) are ideally located at the crossroads of major motorways, PARIS /MARSEILLE and LYON/ MILAN, reducing upstream transport costs and the proximity of manufacturers of new cooling fluids guarantees use of the recycled products for low downstream transport costs.

Produits Chimiques du Mont blanc - PAE du Pays du Mont Blanc - 100 rue G. Toussaint - 74190 PASSY - Tel: (33) 04 50 78 00 45 - Fax : (33) 04 50 78 00 88