Exploring dry and adiabatic cooling solutions

Dinesh Badgandi, CEO, Thermax Cooling Solutions, gives an overview on heat dissipation technology and its inclusion within the Indian market, while in conversation with Ranjana Konatt – Editor (Brand Positioning) 

Is there an urgent need to be associated with processes such as heat dissipation technology? What is the need within the HVACR industry? 
Thermax Cooling Solutions Ltd is a 100% subsidiary of Thermax Group. The company is associated with heat dissipation and we are presently focusing on the industry by offering solutions using air-cooled systems. The whole idea is to optimise processes while also trying to address the need within the industry. Thermax is associated with energy and the environment. We have always associated with optimising processes and the industry as a whole. Our main focus is to provide optimised solutions to the industry. The need within the industry is that we need proper dissipation of energy and we feel that this segment is very helpful to us.

How big of an opportunity is it to explore both dry and adiabatic cooling solutions? Is the government promoting high-value micro-cold chain requirements in India? 
We see the need as an opportunity to use both dry and adiabatic cooling solutions. This is a big opportunity and with the government also promoting and supporting high value – micro-cold chain requirements in India, we see that this segment is here to grow. Conservation of water is a key challenge as well, and every industry globally is facing the issue concerning the optimisation of water. The company is dedicated to introducing and addressing customer requirements to optimise the dissipation requirements. Many industrial processes use various energy sources for heating application in their processes. This heating in the process is conducted through process fluids such as air, water, steam, pulp, chemicals etc. Thermax cooling solutions use air- and water-cooled systems to bring down the temperatures of these fluids. For instance: Steam coming out of the turbine in a power plant needs to be condensed to enhance the efficiency of the power plant. Our product Air cooler condenser condenses the steam to condensate (hot water) which can be reused as boiler feed water in a power plant. This equipment is critical for the turbine operations and overall power plant efficiency.

What is Thermax Cooling doing differently when it comes to heat dissipation through air-cooled systems? What are the challenges concerning the acceptance of the technology within the Indian market? 
Thermax has deployed its expertise in heat and mass transfer while designing these products. In depth process and metallurgy knowledge, reliable component selection ensures optimizes the energy usage and increases the productivity of customer processes. A high capital cost, the availability of space in the plant are some of the key challenges deploying dry cooling solutions in Domestic market.

What are the challenges sighted when it comes to introducing the concept to the market, is heat dissipation a concept that must first be captured at a micro level within the industry? 
Yes, a big challenge is selling or introducing the concept to the market. Heat dissipation is something that needs to be captured at a very micro level in the industry. There are industries, processes that are globally accepted and used, but the challenge is to bring it to a level where it is easily accepted by the customer so that it fits into the broader scheme of things. Most of it is based on the return on investment, and there is a requirement of adaptability of the product within the process. Another challenge is the adaptation of the systems and processes, cost is also a factor to be considered. The main rider in the broader scope of things is the conservation of water and the optimal use of power. We see MNCs adopting principles and being used globally; this will help us establish industry parameters.
Thermax has started the offerings in process cooling space in last two to three years and it aims to be market leader in the domestic market and amongst top five in selective international markets.

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