Tempering

Tempering involves the controlled heating or cooling of a system in order to achieve a specified process temperature as accurately as possible. Precise tempering is a key prerequisite for the success of many chemical and physical processes, as well as for consistent product quality.

In bulk material handling and processing, temperature influences, for example, the reaction rate, viscosity, flow behaviour and the quality of the end product. Heating or cooling systems using water, thermal oil, steam or refrigerants as heat transfer media are typically employed for temperature control. Heat transfer can take place, for example, via a double jacket, heating coils, a plate heat exchanger or temperature-controlled walls.

Tempering tasks can also arise in mixers, reactors, silos and conveyor systems. They are particularly important in the chemical, food, pharmaceutical, battery and plastics industries, as precise temperature control significantly enhances process reliability and reproducibility.

Tempering should be distinguished from the materials science process known as ‘annealing’, which is a specific heat treatment of materials with different objectives.