Between the Pipes Q1 2021

Happy New Year…We Hope

As we enter a new year, we realize that our communication with the outside world is more and more dependant on virtual reality. This becomes quite a hurdle to jump when you’re in the business of selling tactile products as well as offering technical training.

So how do we convey the message? We go out and buy a video camcorder!

Although video training is new to us, believe me…we are not getting any calls from the Oscar’s Nomination Committee, but we are giving it a good try! Our virtual training is getting some great reviews. So give us a shout, and we’d be happy to have our people, call your people.

Sylvia Flegg, Marketing Manager

Join the list of growing interest in our quarterly newsletter!

 

What Are Industrial Heat Exchangers?
As their name implies, heat exchangers are designed to exchange or transfer heat from one medium to another, with the primary purpose of heating up elements or cooling them down.

Why Are Heat Exchangers Needed?
Heat exchangers have a very broad range of industrial applications:

  • components of air conditioning and cooling systems or of heating systems
  • keep machinery, chemicals, water, gas, and other substances within a safe operating temperature
  • capture and transfer steam or heat exhaust to be better used elsewhere, thereby increasing efficiency and saving the plant money

How Do Heat Exchangers Work?
Different types of heat exchangers work in different ways, but one thing that all heat exchangers have in common, is that they all function to directly or indirectly expose a warmer medium to a cooler medium, hence, exchanging heat. This is usually accomplished by using a set of tubes housed within some type of casing. Heat exchanger fans, condensers, belts, coolants, additional tubes, and lines, along with other components and equipment work to increase heating and cooling efficiency or improve flow.

Classification of Heat Exchangers
Heat Exchangers can be classified into one of the following :

  • The nature of the heat exchange process
  • The physical state of the fluids
  • The heat exchanger’s flow arrangement
  • The design and construction of the heat exchanger

The Manner of Heat Exchange
Industrial heat exchangers may be categorized depending on how the hot and cold fluids interact.

  • Direct Contact Heat Exchangers – Direct heat exchangers place both fluids in direct contact with one another within a tubing system. Although this method is highly effective, it cannot be used in situations where the two fluids may create a volatile mixture or alter the results of an industrial process.
  • Indirect Contact Heat Exchangers – Indirect contact heat exchangers keep the hot and cold fluids physically separated from each other, in different sets of pipes, and instead rely on radiant energy and convection to exchange the heat.

The Physical States of the Interacting Fluids
Heat Exchangers may also be classified based on the physical state of the hot and cold fluids. For instance:

  • Liquid – Gas
  • Liquid – Solid
  • Gas – Solid

If the heat exchanger uses direct contact then the classification “immiscible liquid-liquid” may also exist to refer to liquids that will not blend together. For example, oil and water are immiscible.

The Design/ Flow Pattern of the Heat Exchanger
Industrial heat exchangers come in different designs with varied patterns of heat exchange flow. These are the main types to be considered:

  • Parallel flow heat exchangers have a design that allows both the cool and heated fluids to move in the same direction.
  • Counter-flow heat exchangers are designed to allow both the heated and cooling fluids to enter from opposite ends of the device. This is the most effective method of heat exchange. This design permits the most efficient heat conduction between the interacting fluids per unit mass.
  • Crossflow heat exchangers drive the heated process fluid and coolant in directions that are perpendicular to each other.

The Heat Exchanger’s Flow Pattern
Heat exchangers come in different designs with varied patterns of heat exchange flow:

  • Parallel-Flow – Hot and cold fluids enter the heat exchanger from the same end and flow parallel to each other.
  • Countercurrent-Flow – Hot and cold fluids enter the heat exchanger from opposite sides and flow toward each other. This is the most effective method because the design permits the most efficient heat conduction between the interacting fluids per unit mass.
  • Cross-Flow – Hot and cold fluids enter the heat exchanger at different points and as they travel through the heat exchanger they cross paths with each other, often at right angles.

Our Durlon® Durtec® gasket is designed to withstand high temperatures and pressures, to be blowout resistant, to be fire safe, and to resist toxic and or corrosive chemicals for such applications as pipeline flanges, valves, small & large pressure vessels, heat exchangers, towers, and tanks. Read more about this very versatile product.

 

Durlon® Kammprofile gaskets have a solid metal core with concentrically serrated grooves machined into the top and bottom faces. The metal core is typically stainless steel, but it can be supplied in various metallurgies as per the customer’s request.

The serrated core is covered with soft sealing material and is dependent on the service conditions of the system. Flexible graphite and expanded PTFE sealing layers are most common, but other soft materials can be used as well. While providing the Durlon® Kammprofile gasket with excellent sealing properties, the soft sealing layers also fill in minor flange imperfections and protect the flange surfaces from damage.

Available systems: Durlon® Kammprofile gaskets are offered in 4 styles in each of the 2 core designs.

A loose-fitting centering ring is recommended on applications where thermal or pressure cycling can affect the integrity of the serrated metal core. It allows for the expansion and contraction of the core through these cycling conditions.

Core Materials

  • Standard core material is 316 stainless steel with a nominal thickness of 0.125” (3mm)
  • Other core materials and thicknesses are available to suit specific applications
  • Core material is generally selected in an identical material to the piping system in order to reduce corrosion problems

Facing Materials

  • Standard facing material is flexible graphite with a nominal thickness of 0.020” (0.5mm)
  • Other facing materials and thicknesses are available to suit specific applications
  • Meets Shell Specification MESC SPE 85/203 & PVRC SCR Flexible Graphite Spec for FG 600 material

Shapes

  • Round, ovals (normal or irregular), manways, track shapes, diamonds, squares/rectangles, with ribs, etc.

Flange Surface Finish

  • The ideal flange surface finish for use with Kammprofile gaskets is 125-250

Click here to see all the available core styles.

Industry Applications:

Chemical Processing, Heavy Industrial, Oil & Gas, Petrochemical, Power Generation, Pulp & Paper, Refining

Certifications:

• RoHS Reach Declaration compliant

 


Answer: SMILE

The Fluid Sealing Association 

Founded in 1933, the FSA is an international trade association. Member companies are involved in the production and marketing of a wide range of fluid sealing devices primarily targeted to the industrial market. FSA members account for a majority of the manufacturing capacity for fluid sealing devices in the Americas market. Learn more.

Industry Tradeshows

(WWET) Water & Wastewater Equipment, Treatment & Transport
Feb 23-25, 2021, Virtual

SME MineXchange
Mar 1-5, 2021, Virtual

(PDAC) Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada
Mar 8-11, 2021, Virtual

2021 Coal Association of Canada
Apr 28-29, 2021, Virtual

 

 

 

Next issue highlights: Industry and product focus. We’ll share a new video, news, and upcoming events you may want to look into. And of course, we will put those genius brains to the work again and tickle your funny bone with another adventure from our gasket guru. See you in May 2021!