Why heat exchanger maintenance is a whole system issue

Much like throwing a stone into a pond creates a series of ripples in the water, heat transfer fluid deterioration can have knock-on effects on the components in the system. Here, Dr Chris Wright, head of research and development (R&D) at thermal fluid specialist, Global Heat Transfer, explains why heat exchanger maintenance is a whole system issue.

When considering how to maintain a heat exchanger, it might seem logical to start with the component itself. However, the plant manager should consider the whole system and in fact, the whole plant, to keep the heat exchanger in good condition.

 As part of United Utilities water quality improvement programme, JMC North West Ltd, on behalf of NMCN, recently completed works to bury the above ground timing loop at the Pex Hill Service Reservoir. The challenge was to provide a durable, reliable corrosion prevention solution to protect over 90 double flanged joints prior to full encapsulation. To provide this high level of protection, JMC North West Ltd turned to Winn & Coales (Denso) Ltd for their services.

Having moved from a facility that was too small and would have been uneconomical to upgrade, the overriding requirements for Elis’ new, state-of-the-art Southampton-based facility were to increase and future-proof throughput by increasing capacity as and when required. Protecting their investment was also paramount, so manufacturer-backed aftercare solutions were also key to the long-term plan.

The existing facility used a combination of indirect steam from a horizontal steam boiler and steam-heated ironers and dryers during the laundry process. But with the new multi-service flat linen plant – which services the Southern region hospitality and healthcare industry – came a new approach for Elis and, because the company processes laundry for the healthcare sector amongst others, they instead opted for a heat transfer system that would pre-heat water for the washing machines to a minimum of 72 degrees centigrade by directly injecting steam into the water supply.

Enclosures for switchgear and electrical equipment are vital across the manufacturing and engineering sectors including food and beverage production companies.

An enclosure creates a protective environment for sensitive electrical components, while also protecting operatives from contact with the electrical circuitry.

The design of these enclosures needs to take account of their location; for food production lines, this means ensuring very high hygiene standards can be maintained.

Enclosures specifically designed to meet the requirements of food and beverage production lines are commonly referred to as “Hygienic Design” enclosures.

Rittal has published a White Paper which considers the distinguishing characteristics of Hygienic Design enclosures and how they must align with current and relevant directives, regulations and guidelines.

About Them dairy

Them Co-operative Dairy in Denmark specialises in the production of organic speciality craftsman Danish cheeses, along with other dairy products.

Founded in 1888 by a small group of local farmers, the co-operative has grown to include 27 members today and produces approximately 6,000 tons of cheese annually.

Them Co-operative Dairy prides itself on modern production and sustainable practices and has been named a National Champion of Environmental and Corporate Sustainability in the European Business Awards.

Having moved from a facility that was too small and would have been uneconomical to upgrade, the overriding requirements for Elis’ new, state-of-the-art Southampton-based facility were to increase and future-proof throughput by increasing capacity as and when required. Protecting their investment was also paramount, so manufacturer-backed aftercare solutions were also key to the long-term plan.

Power management company Eaton has published a new whitepaper, “Simplified universal marshalling: its evolution and benefits”, which reviews the latest technological developments in automation marshalling systems, and provides real life examples and calculations of cost savings that can be achieved in typical process industry applications. It advises plant and project engineers how to optimise their marshalling set-up to reduce overall end user costs by up to 50 per cent.

The process of extracting and processing uranium can present many challenges. Machinery and equipment are exposed to environments during production, which over time can cause damage and lead to shutdowns.

If left untreated, corrosion can lead to major consequences for large assets, such as vessels. Both on a financial level as well as environmental.

A uranium mine in Australia uses a unique extraction technology to produce high purity uranium. A planned upgrade revealed issues with the existing rubber lining of exchange vessels, critical to the extraction process. 

Exhibitor Case Study – Cortec® Southeast Asia
We’ve spoken with Rami Abu-Chakra, Business Development at Cortec® Middle East, to discuss his attendance at this year’s Tank Storage Asia and learn about his vision to drive excellence in tank storage protection throughout the industry.  
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A nationwide project to upgrade Pizza Hut’s kitchen ventilation systems to a higher performing, energy efficient solution is underway. Project manager Marcus Sawkins of GFMS Services Limited has already upgraded several of the restaurants’ systems with the Elta Fans QUBE Centrifugal Box Fan which is reducing energy usage. The most recent installation was at Royale Leisure Park in London where the new Elta Fans QUBE solution has reduced energy costs by up to 10%+ and breakdowns occurring on a regular basis, to zero.