Offices in ENGLAND, USA, CHINA, INDIA Representation Worldwide
Process Safetyand & Optimisation Calorimetry Battery Safety Battery Performance Studies
THT is proud to carry on supply and support for all ARC Systems –chemical (Pharma, explosives, reactive chemicals, epoxies…) and battery. The ARC was devised by Dow Chemical Co Ltd in the late 1970s as an adiabatic safety calorimeter to safely simulate potential runaway reactions in the laboratory. Quantifying hazards from reactive chemicals was key to decreasing explosive and other serious incidents in the Chemical Industry. The ARC was commercialised by CSI (Columbia Scientific Industries) in 1980. CSI had a small International Office in England and when CSI ceased business in the mid 1990s THT was born, the 3 staff maintaining the business, supporting the users, modernising the equipment and continuing the technology. This continues today –now there is equal emphasis in Li Ion Battery Calorimetry. THT leads the world with ARC sales within the chemical industry with strong presence in the area of energetic and explosives. Calorimeter development however has focused the ability to test larger ‘samples’. This has led to development of larger calorimeters specifically for battery safety and thermal management testing.
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The original 1990s THT ARC Brochure Photograph
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The 2015 EV+ System
Main Heading March 2015 Newsletter main header
News
ARC
The UK-based commercial sample service offered by THT has further expanded due to demand and we are delighted that Vittorio Bartoli has joined us. Vittorio worked with us for 3 summers as a vacation student during his time at the University of Manchester where last year he graduated with a First Class degree in Chemical Engineering.
35 years and still counting… The first commercial ARC systems were manufactured by CSI in Jollyville Road, Austin Texas under license from Dow Chemical. The first batch of 10 went to Dow Chemical; USA, Canada, Brazil and Columbia, Italy and the Netherlands. There is no record as to how many ARCs have been sold over these years – it must be near to 1000 but there is no record of more than 30 sold per year.
Vittorio will also be involved in the further expansion of the THT laboratory where all THT instruments are available for Commercial Sample Testing.
What is clear is that THT have sold several hundred. Many of these replaced old CSI ARC even though the lifetime of a CSI ARC must average more than 20 years and several are still in daily use, supported by THT. THT has also updated early THT EuroARCs
One area that Vittorio will focus is in application of ARC data to vent sizing. THT work closely with CISP (Cheminform St Petersburg, Russia) and there is new CISP software now available in this area In addition we are pleased to see more and more papers in the Scientific Literature detailing important studies and data using the ARC; these are complemented by papers given at conferences worldwide where articles and Presentations are made available. Please feel free to send us any relevant references! Abstract of recent papers are given with a link for full articles. Our THT website has a new live chat feature allowing you to ask questions directly to our team application specialists. To start a conversation simply click the ‘Chat’ button at the bottom of the page.
ARC systems (supplied by THT) are in use throughout Asia, Australia, Africa, North and South America and of course Europe. The most ARCs in any lab is 6. There are many users with several ARC systems though in recent years many large chemical companies have reorganised and consolidated. This has led to a shift in sales from the mature economies of North America and Europe to rapidly developing economies, China and India and also moving of systems to new locations. The largest single country for ARC sales is China. A series of seminars in China has supported our users.
ARC systems are in use to evaluate key application areas… Pharma, Explosives, Batteries and more specialist areas Oil Recovery, Gas Flow and Adsorption, Pyrophoric metals ARC systems might be used daily or just 2 or 3 times a year. 3
March 2015Benchmark NewsletterBattery Testing Calorimetry World
Extending the application To support all users THT has pioneered options to extend applications. These include stirring, high pressure dosing, high and medium pressure gas flow options, multi-sample gas collection, vent sizing and fast tracking add-on and ‘kits’ designed for specific applications; explosives (small sample), glass components and cells (peroxides).
CISP offer ‘expert’ software packages that take the results from ADaExpert and allow more sophisticated vent sizing areas to be explored, other packages allow Reactor Modelling and Simulation to be performed. CISP ‘Thermal Safety Software’ together with ARC data allows full determination of vent sizing, reactor modelling and with the CISP ‘Chemical Engineering Software’ design and other chemical engineering applications can be studied. http://www.cisp.spb.ru/ For the ADaExpert Tutorial and how to vent size from THT ARC data click the link
Explosives Kit Testing of energetic materials brings challenges, small sample mass is needed, ARC bombs may not be the best… the aid such applications THT offer the Explosive kit that contains low volume ‘tube bombs’ and a side branch gas tube to minimise void volume Glass Cells Metal surfaces catalyse several reactions, decomposition of hydrogen peroxide is well known. Whilst glass is a poor conductor and can only resist modest pressures there are time when glass is the sample holder material of choice. THT offers a range of glass ‘bombs’. Vent Sizing THT continue to work with CISP (Cheminform St Petersburg) and to link CISP software with THT ARC software. The latest CISP package that allows vent sizing calculation to be carried out with THT ARC data is ADaExpert. THT recommend this, especially for users new to the subject and who need an introduction and results that give guidance.
µRC THT offer a range of options to extend functionality of the µRC. The pressure option integrates a pressure transducer and is designed to work with the supplied Stainless Steel Pressure Cells. 1/16” tubing and connectors can monitor pressure build up during a test. Alternatively connection to an appropriate gas cylinder can create an overpressure during measurement. The Pressure Cells are rated to 10bar. Dosing under pressure is possible using the Pressure Rated Dosing Assembly, an external syringe pump drives a pressure rated syringe to deliver its contents via 1/16” PEEK tubing to the Stainless Steel Pressure Cell. Standard uRC Metal Cells are constructed from 316 Stainless Steel, for those wanting improved chemical resistance to reagents such as Hydrochloric Acid we offer Hastelloy cells.
March 2015 Newsletter
ÂľRC The Gas Flow Option adds a Mass Flow Controller and support frame to allow regulation and switching of up to two gases. Flow is typically at ambient pressure, elevated pressure is possible using the back pressure regulator. Successful studies of amines for carbon capture have been made utilising this option. Delivering solid to liquid is achieved with the Solid Dosing Option. At the chosen time point, the plunger is manually depressed dosing the solid sample contained in the delivery tube. Disposable Syringe Option allows manual injection with 1mL disposable syringes. The syringe is housed in a modified shunt to aid temperature equilibration within the calorimeter.
RSD
2015 has seen revised software for the RSD, Rapid Screening Device. The RSD is the ideal tool in several areas A first safety calorimeter for the expanding Chemical Company An introduction to safety testing for companies and employees A safety calorimeter for companies with increasing demands for sample testing A safety calorimeter as a screening tool for labs with A safety calorimeter where there is routine and QC needs The RSD combines quality safety calorimetry, lower costs, easy to use, rapid data acquisition, simple data analysis. Options: Dosing Stirring Cryogenic Gas Flow Gas collection Features: Up to 6 sample in one test (Temp and Pressure) Sample and Reference Mg to kg sample mass Glass, metal‌. Open, closed sample holders Isothermal, temperature ramp Themokinetic analysis software
Further Information View our brochures on line now
ARC brochure uRC brochure RSD brochure The RSD continues to be the Screening Safety Calorimeter of choice around the world.
Š Thermal Hazard Technology 2015 All rights reserved.
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