Providing thermal comfort to employees in the workplace involves having efficient temperature control. However, the well-being of people is not the only benefit within a company. If it's too hot or too cold, equipment can also be affected in its operation.
Therefore, if you're responsible for controlling and monitoring machine performance, the ambient temperature should be a focal point. The equipment itself can contribute to excessive heating of the environment. Thus, understanding how to balance it to prevent system overload and consequently a breakdown will be necessary.
Do you want to understand how to solve temperature control process issues? By continuing to read this article, you will find the following topics:
- What is temperature control?
- Why perform temperature control in environments?
- Key strategies for temperature control in environments.
What is temperature control?
Temperature control is a set of practices aimed at ensuring the quality of temperature in environments. To achieve this, it involves the use of equipment and technologies that measure, compile data, and apply necessary adjustments.
Parameters for ensuring temperature quality must be measured using quality indicators, which will vary based on the nature of the environment.
The temperature controller is a technology designed to ensure that the temperature quality remains within pre-established standards. There are three types of controllers, and depending on the system used, the operator can choose one of them.
- On/Off: One of the simplest temperature control devices. The device's output switches on or off whenever the temperature exceeds the set point.
- Proportional: This control is designed to reduce the average power the heater supplies when it's close to the set point. Proportional controls will maintain a stable temperature.
- Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID): Also known as PID, it combines proportional control with two additional adjustments for automatic compensation of system changes.
In summary, the temperature sensor will compare the value generated by the equipment with the expected value. Thus, any differences that arise will trigger signals for maintenance professionals to make necessary corrections.
In industries, for example, machines need to operate at an appropriate temperature for each production phase. A high or low variation from the ideal range can lead to serious product issues, such as:
- Damaged coatings;
- Inadequate material adhesion;
- Weakened materials;
- Compromised components.
Why perform temperature control in environments?
Quality assurance of products, thermal comfort for employees, and better machinery performance—these are some of the reasons for implementing industrial or corporate temperature control, regardless of the industry sector.
For example, in the pharmaceutical industry, the storage, distribution, and transportation of medications must adhere to Anvisa guidelines. Resolution RDC n.º 304/19 establishes good practices to ensure that medicines maintain their quality throughout processes.
In a room housing servers, temperature control prevents machine overheating. In offices, excessive heat or cold can have a negative impact on employee productivity.
To give you an idea of how important maintaining thermal comfort in the workplace is, it's even addressed in labor law. The Regulatory Standard for Ergonomics dictates that the ideal temperature for air-conditioned environments should be between 18 and 25 °C.
As mentioned, it doesn't matter which field you operate in—maintaining control and managing the indoor climate is essential. The same applies to humidity; just like temperature, it requires monitoring.
Air humidity can affect production in various ways, for instance:
- Mold Growth: Excessively humid environments without control can develop mold, compromising the health of employees and products.
- Drying Out: When there's an imbalance and the air becomes excessively dry, lack of humidity can also lead to problems with products and health.
Therefore, as someone responsible for maintenance, you should pay attention to temperature and humidity control. This way, you can ensure that both people and production won't be negatively impacted, taking the necessary precautions.
Main Strategies for Temperature Control in Environments
Now that you understand what temperature control is and why it's important, let's discuss strategies. It's not enough to simply equip rooms and devices with heat and humidity sensors without preparing the environment for improvement.
Depending on the space, some structural changes might be necessary before starting the process. In other cases, implementing digital systems might be sufficient to initiate control.
Next, let's delve into more details about the main strategies:
Structural Solutions
Thermal comfort can be planned from the initial design phase of a building or through structural modifications to existing constructions. These solutions involve alterations that enhance ventilation, lighting, and insulation against heat or cold.
Here are some tips for structural solutions:
- Larger windows allow natural light and ventilation to enter, ensuring the utilization of natural resources.
- Special glass assists in utilizing daylight and can isolate radiation emitted by sunlight.
- Incorporating the concept of fewer cramped rooms and more open spaces, commonly seen in residential designs, also influences businesses and industries. Wider openings or absence of walls in certain areas facilitate free air circulation, benefiting everyone.
- In initial design projects, it's worth investing in materials that efficiently insulate against both cold and heat.
Read also: 10 Tips on How to Reduce Energy Consumption in Your Company!
Digital Temperature Control System
The use of a digital temperature controller enables remote access to information for operators. This is achieved by installing temperature and humidity sensors in equipment and environments for monitoring purposes.
These digital thermostats offer additional functionalities that make them smarter than mechanical versions:
- Voltage monitoring: focuses on safeguarding equipment from overheating.
- Timer functions: automate management processes.
- Differential control: suitable for those using solar heating among their resources.
- Online monitoring: allows responsible professionals to generate reports and configure alarms in the system.
If you're seeking a way to standardize processes and ensure efficient temperature control, technology provides the best alternatives. For instance, Squair is a startup focused on energy efficiency development and intelligent solutions for businesses.
Through automation, maintenance engineers can access the data and control necessary to:
- Ensure employees' thermal comfort.
- Maintain critical environments like air-conditioned server rooms to prevent heat-related issues.
- Integrate HVAC systems.
Focused on promoting operational intelligence and environmental responsibility, Squair has been a part of the Global Compact Network Brazil since 2022.
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