These activities are crucial for the future of sustainable mobility, essential for the development of more sustainable technologies for the future of the automotive industry. We therefore extend our sincere thanks to Giacomo Silvagni, PhD Assistant Professor at Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna, responsible for these projects at the University Department, who provided us with detailed information on two of the ongoing research projects.

The first image, in the scheme below, shows the construction of a flow bench for experimental diesel and gasoline common rail GDI (Gasoline Direct Injection) injectors, aimed at hydraulic characterization of the injection system and the development of control-oriented models.

As Giacomo Silvagni explains, high-pressure injection systems are typically used in control strategies with multiple, closely spaced injections. These strategies generate dynamic pressure wave effects and electromagnetic interactions that induce deviations from the normal injector operation, causing imbalances in the torque delivered by the engine from cylinder to cylinder, resulting in reduced efficiency and increased pollutant emissions. Thanks to the flow bench, built within the laboratories of the Department of Industrial Engineering of the University of Bologna, it was possible to carry out ad hoc experimental campaigns to experimentally characterize the tested injection systems, both diesel (up to 1,800 bar) and gasoline (up to 700 bar), and to develop control-oriented physical models aimed at real-time compensation of these dynamic phenomena compatible with standard engine control units.

For this first application, the Tempco temperature control unit was a central component of the test system, used to regulate the fuel temperature within the injection systems. The TCU therefore allowed for precise control of the fluid temperature, which is crucial for ensuring the repeatability of the experimental tests, and simultaneously verified the impact of different fuel temperatures on the system’s hydraulic dynamics.

The other two images below relate to the study for converting a 1.3-liter multijet diesel engine to operate on compression-ignition gasoline, aimed at studying high-efficiency combustion modes.

The study of innovative, high-efficiency, low-emission combustion methods is part of the ongoing development of internal combustion engines for high-efficiency, low-emission applications. Innovative combustion methods still represent one of the most promising solutions, especially considering the advent of synthetic and sustainable fuels. To verify the benefits of these technologies, a small 1.3-liter multijet internal combustion engine, originally designed for diesel compression ignition, was converted to GCI (Gasoline Compression Ignition) operation in the laboratories of the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Bologna. This activity allowed to verify the benefits of this combustion method, both in terms of efficiency and pollutant emissions, compared to traditional diesel operation. The entire engine operating range was replicated while maintaining all internal engine components in their stock production configuration, thus verifying their full applicability to off-the-shelf hardware already on the market.

The Tempco temperature control unit, as Silvagni further explains, was a central element of the test system as it was used to regulate the temperature of the air drawn into the engine during start-up. Thanks to the Tempco temperature control unit and the use of a dedicated air-oil heat exchanger, it was possible to increase the temperature of the air drawn into the engine before it entered the combustion chamber, thus promoting spontaneous ignition of the gasoline. The precise control achieved by the Tempco system also allowed to verify the impact of different combustion air temperatures on combustion stability and engine performance in terms of torque/power output and pollutant emissions.

L'articolo Temperature control units in high-efficiency combustion engine test benches proviene da Tempco Blog.

Also for pharmaceutical applications, we recently supplied three TREG temperature control units for silicone fluids in glass-lined reactors. This is a classic mono-fluid temperature control application, equipped with heating via electric resistors and a low-temperature cooling section (-30°C) using brazed plate heat exchangers and mixing valves.

Temperature ramps control is achieved through dedicated electronic thermoregulators and thyristors (SCR), which allow the customer to drive the heating elements with modulating power. Finally, the thermal control units work with special pumps, featuring magnetic drive technology and a very wide temperature range of -30/+300° C.

L'articolo Temperature control units for reactors at -30° C in the pharma industry proviene da Tempco Blog.

Mostra fiera idrogeno is a vertical event, now in its sixth year, organized by EIOM Fiere and dedicated to the wide range of the most innovative industrial technologies and solutions for the hydrogen supply chain.

You can pre-register for the event on this page.

Tempco’s PCHE exchangers represent an innovative technology that offers high performance to meet the critical requirements of hydrogen applications, such as extreme pressures and variable temperatures. The construction by diffusion bonding, or solid-state welding, of the plate pack allows these exchangers to operate at pressures up to 900 bar and beyond, thanks to their high structural integrity, which ensures operational reliability and high safety.

The photo-etching technique empployed for the plates allows to create customized layouts of heat transfer microcircuits, allowing PCHEs to be built in multistream mode, as required by the multistage compressors used in hydrogen refueling stations. This ensures extremely high heat transfer efficiency, rapid refueling, and installation in small spaces thanks to the exchanger’s highly compact design.

mcT Hydrogen is held concurrently with several other events, including mcT Oil & Gas and Security, a sector in which Tempco PCHE exchangers find equally important and interesting applications, such as pre-heaters in high-performance turbines and on GLN extraction platforms for gas cooling.

L'articolo Tempco’s PCHE exchangers at the mcT Hydrogen on April 14 proviene da Tempco Blog.

Brazed plate heat exchangers are the ideal solution for these plants thanks to their compactness, high thermal efficiency, and total maintenance-free operation. Compared to traditional shell-and-tube heat exchangers, they offer a series of concrete advantages that make them particularly suitable for modular, high-power density installations in small spaces.

The choice of Tempco
In Tempco hydraulic power plants, brazed plate heat exchangers are custom-sized based on the customer’s operating conditions:

• flow rates
• viscosity
• operating temperature
• heat dissipation duty

The use of copper or nickel-brazed stainless steel heat exchangers ensures high corrosion resistance and long operating life, with consistent thermal performance over time. Their compactness and reliability make them the perfect choice for high-performance systems, where every detail counts to ensure operational continuity and energy savings.

In short, brazed plate heat exchangers maximize thermal transfer efficiency and reduce overall dimensions, simplifying maintenance and improving the reliability of hydraulic power plants.

L'articolo Brazed plate heat exchangers in hydraulic power plants proviene da Tempco Blog.

CRN (Canadian Registration Number) number is a unique code issued by Canadian provincial/territorial authorities, required for the installation and use of pressure equipment, such as boilers, heat exchangers, pressure vessels, and fittings (fittings, valves, piping) in Canada. CRN certification is mandatory for equipment operating at pressures above 15 psig (approximately 1 bar) and, in the case of Tempco, ensures that the design and engineering of our brazed heat exchangers comply with Canadian safety standards.

A key safety requirement for importing and installing pressure-bearing components in Canada, this new certification, combined with the ASME certification, ensures that Tempco brazed plate heat exchangers comply with Canadian industry standards. Specifically, the CRN code is valid for installation of our brazed plate exchangers in the provinces of Ontario (ON), Quebec (QC), British Columbia (BC), Alberta (AB), and Saskatchewan (SK).

This new certification for installations in the Canadian market adds to the certifications Tempco has achieved over the years for its thermal control and industrial thermoregulation solutions such as ATEX for operation in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as in the chemical, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical sectors, and the ones for our TREG thermoregulation TCU units, which are UL certified for the North American market and EAC certified for Russia and the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) countries.

L'articolo Brazed plate exchangers with ASME certification and CRN code for Canada proviene da Tempco Blog.

Fuel cells are electrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy of hydrogen into electrical energy with high efficiency, producing water and heat as a byproduct. Green hydrogen (green H2) is therefore hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources, with no carbon emissions. Water electrolysis is the most commonly used method for hydrogen generation, using a chemical reaction that separates hydrogen from oxygen.

As a green energy, green hydrogen can therefore be used in a variety of sectors, replacing fossil fuels and promoting the energy transition. Green hydrogen can be used for fuel cells, but it can also serve as a direct energy source for aviation, marine, automotive, and heavy-duty transportation, as well as for on-site industrial power generation.

Regardless of the type of electrolytic cell technology – be it PEMEC (proton exchange membrane electrolyzer), AEMEC (anion exchange membrane electrolyzer), AEL (alkaline electrolyzer), SOEC (solid oxide electrolyzer), or any other electrolysis technology – brazed exchangers offer high-value, high-efficiency solutions for electrolysis equipment, electrolytes, reaction water and gas preheating, working fluid cooling, and system energy recovery.

For these hydrogen applications, Kaori offers two types of brazed plate exchangers: the high-nickel alloy exchangers are the ideal solution for high-temperature SOEC/SOFC applications, capable of operating at temperatures up to 900°C. The new full-stainless steel brazed exchangers use stainless steel as the brazing filler material. This makes them suitable for hydrogen generation via PEM electrolysis and for fuel systems, or for low-conductivity deionized water that does not allow the passage of copper ions.

L'articolo Brazed plate exchangers for hydrogen applications, electrolysis and fuel cells proviene da Tempco Blog.

One of the most common applications for high-pressure exchangers is gas cooling in compressors, as shown in the photo below: a high-pressure compression system for technical gases, where the exchangers are used to dissipate the heat generated during compression. In these systems, robustness and mechanical sealing are essential to ensure safety, continuity of service, and longevity.

Therefore, these are some of the main advantages offered by this special type of high-pressure brazed exchangers:

• Compact design and simplified installation

• High mechanical resistance, up to 140 bar

• No routine maintenance thanks to the absence of gaskets• High heat exchange efficiency even at low flow rates

• Customized versions available for specific gases, oils, or process fluids

The high-pressure versions of brazed exchangers are also used in heat recovery systems, CO₂ hydraulic circuits, HVAC systems for transcritical refrigerants, and in the hydrogen sector, where operating conditions require absolutely reliable equipment.

L'articolo Brazed plate heat exchangers for high pressures up to 140 bar proviene da Tempco Blog.

The AI/HPC data centers sector is therefore accelerating its transition toward the use of large-scale liquid cooling technologies, driven by the achievement of sustainability targets and high power efficiency (PUE) values ​​in new, large, high-performance data centers. To address this significant trend, Kaori, a Tempco partner in the field of heat transfer, recently introduced two new heat exchangers with highly attractive features specifically designed for new liquid cooling solutions in high-performance infrastructures.

This is the B390 heat exchanger, which features an asymmetric plate design specifically designed for high-density AI and HPC data centers. With a cooling capacity of up to 2.000 kW and support for 4-inch high-flow connections, it easily manages the transient heat loads of next-generation high-power servers. Measuring only 321 mm in width and 751 mm in length, the B390 offers exceptional cooling performance in a compact footprint—perfectly integrating into In-Row CDU systems while maximizing space efficiency.

Optimized for the pressure drop differences on both sides of In-Row CDU systems, the B390 ensures stable flow distribution and higher overall performance. It is available in single or multi-pass configurations and supports vertical, horizontal, or flat installations, providing flexible integration for various system and space requirements in data center environments.

B390 continues the core advantages of Kaori’s B Series:

• Exclusive plate pattern design: maximizes heat transfer efficiency while maintaining low pressure drop.
• High working pressure construction: ensures long-term reliability for high-pressure liquid cooling systems.
• Compact design: pptimizes space utilization to meet high-density integration needs.

A second interesting heat exchanger model, also developed specifically for next-generation, high-density data center environments in the AI ​​era, is the K390. The same-sized K390 heat exchanger features a symmetrical plate design, ideal for balanced bidirectional flow systems.

Together, the B390 and K390 form a complementary solution, offering greater design flexibility and performance options for in-row liquid cooling architectures.

L'articolo High efficiency exchangers for liquid cooling in AI/HPC data centers proviene da Tempco Blog.

With such a prestigious reference, Tempco is very proud to have contributed to ensuring the high performance of Dallara cars, thanks to the supply of a TREG HE temperature control unit employed for radiator test benches of Dallara Automobili’s racing cars. The unit is specifically designed to heat a thermal oil circuit, operating in a temperature range of +30°C to +180°C and transferring heat to the test fluid via a brazed plate heat exchanger. The flow rate range of the test fluid is between 5 and 80 l/min.

Test benches for these components are essential for laboratory simulation of the same track conditions that the cars will be subjected to during races. Tempco’s thermal control unit is therefore meticulously designed to ensure the simulation of the thermal conditions in which the Dallara supercar radiators will operate, precisely regulating the flow rates and temperatures of the test fluid with great stability and repeatability (temperature regulation accuracy ± 2°C).

Behind every tested radiator, there is thus a control unit that ensures that every degree truly counts in determining the maximum performance of Dallara racing cars. At the heart of the test bench, the TREG HE thermal control unit uses low-specific-power resistors, offering PID-controlled temperature regulation with proportional SCRs and integrated safety logic. An electro-pneumatic modulating valve ensures the necessary heat transfer stability even at low flow rates (5 l/min), maintaining the correct turbulent flow rate on the brazed exchanger.

Finally, the system was designed to always maintain maximum efficiency in regulating the temperature of the test fluid, taking into account the strong variability of the fluid’s viscosity as the temperature varies, together with the need to contain pressure drops.

L'articolo Thermal control unit for radiators test bench in Dallara Automobili proviene da Tempco Blog.

This specific application for the medical sector requires a precise and controlled cooling of the air temperature within the medical tubing thermoforming line. Rapid and stable cooling allows indeed the final geometry of the tube to be set immediately after forming, ensuring repeatability and consistent quality.

The solution used is an air/water exchanger made of UNI6082 aluminum with a special ElectroFin treatment. It is ideal for medical environments thanks to the corrosion resistance and sanitization of the surfaces guaranteed by the special treatment. This involves a series of steps that include testing and inspection of incoming parts, cleaning and degreasing of production residues, and e-coating in a cathodic epoxy bath. All with complete process traceability.

Integrated into the machine, the heat exchanger works with precisely regulated chilled water, maintaining the air temperature within the range required by the process. Thanks to the precise control of the air temperature in the thermoforming line, the result offered by the solution therefore involves greater stability, reduced waste and repeatable quality of the medical product.

L'articolo Air/water heat exchanger for thermoforming in the medical sector proviene da Tempco Blog.