Comments Off on Enerquip Supports Athens School’s Tech-Ed Program with Ventilation System Upgrade
Enerquip Thermal Solutions, a leading provider of premium sanitary and industrial process equipment, has proudly donated $4,000 to the Athens Public Schools tech-ed program. The contribution will be used to upgrade the tech-ed shop’s ventilation system, which was previously inadequate for the school’s CNC plasma machine purchased last year. With the help of Enerquip’s donation, the plasma machine will be fully operational for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year, providing students with a more practical and enhanced learning experience.
A CNC plasma machine is a computer-controlled cutting tool that utilizes ionized compressed air to create a beam that can reach temperatures of up to 30,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The result is a precise cut through materials, enabling students to develop practical skills and knowledge.
Shawn Steinke, Athens High School Tech-Ed Teacher, expressed profound gratitude for the donation, stating that it would have a significant impact on the students and teachers in the program. “We’re excited to see the ventilation system upgrade come to fruition so we can start using our equipment to its full potential,” Steinke said. “We are extremely thankful to Enerquip for their amazing support.”
Enerquip is committed to creating a brighter future for students, teachers, and the community by supporting educational initiatives that provide practical skills and knowledge to the next generation. Jeannie Deml, President & CEO of Enerquip, stated, “We’re thrilled to give back to our local schools, which are instrumental in educating and training our future employees and leaders. We appreciate the dedicated teachers and administration that provide practical training opportunities for our youth.”
Comments Off on How to Install an Enerquip Bundle into its Shell [Video]
Ensuring safety is paramount when changing out a tube bundle in your shell and tube heat exchanger. It is crucial to use the appropriate techniques and tools to prevent damage to yourself and the unit. In this informative video, we will guide you through the simple steps to safely and effectively change out the bundle.
Comments Off on Plant Steam vs. Culinary Steam vs. Pure Steam. What’s the difference?
In order to optimize efficiency and safety in production processes, many industries rely on shell and tube heat exchangers to transfer heat from one place to another. As you review your process requirements, a water source is often a top consideration and factor based on the product running through the shell and tube heat exchanger.
It’s important to understand the differences between steam sources, including plant, culinary and pure.
The primary difference is the quality of the feed water, and the product contact surfaces required for each type of steam being produced. Keep reading to learn more.
Plant Steam
Plant steam is generally chemically treated groundwater or city water, heated to create utility steam for heating equipment and driving turbines, but not to be used in food products. Plant steam is normally created in carbon steel vessels and piping. This plant steam can be used on the utility side of a steam generator to create culinary or hygienic steam on the clean side.
It is not pure enough for direct contact with food products or surfaces that will come into contact with food products.
Culinary Steam
Culinary steam is created using clean water, such as deionized water. It is used in food processing and contains fewer impurities than plant steam making it suitable for direct contact with food products or surfaces that will come into contact with food products.
Product surfaces typically need to be stainless steel, polished to a max of 32Ra, and have no cracks or crevices where contaminants can build up.
Pure Steam
The most sanitary form of steam available is hygienic or pure steam which is made using WFI (water for injection). It does not contain any impurities and can be used to sterilize pharma equipment or directly heat product without risk of contamination. It meets USP requirements and can be injected right into the bloodstream if required.
Product contact surfaces must be 20Ra max stainless steel, with no cracks or crevices where contaminants can build up.
Steam Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
Heat exchangers are an essential part of many industries’ production processes; however, understanding the differences between plant steam, culinary steam, and pure steam will help you determine which type of heat exchanger best suits your needs.
At Enerquip, we design and build for all these steam applications. From industrial kettle style steam generator units that create steam in the shell for the refining industry, to high-purity straight tube steam generators that create pure steam in the sanitary tubes for industries like pharmaceuticals, we understand the standards that apply and create a custom solution for your specific steam needs.
Comments Off on Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers for Plant Oil Extraction
The plant oil extraction process, such as cannabis or essential oils, can be affected by several factors, including the type of extraction method used, the quality of the starting material, and the condition of the equipment used. To achieve high extraction efficiency, it is essential to use the right equipment and methods and to maintain optimal conditions throughout the process.
A key piece of process equipment for plant oil extraction, is a heat exchanger. Often a shell and tube heat exchanger is selected to control the temperature of various stages of the process.
A shell and tube heat exchanger consists of a cylindrical shell with a bundle of tubes running through it. One fluid flows through the tubes, while another fluid flows around the tubes in the shell. Heat is transferred between the two fluids through the tube walls.
Comments Off on Point-of-Use Water Coolers in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Water temperature control is crucial in the pharmaceutical industry because water is used in various processes such as manufacturing, cleaning, and testing. Water that is too hot or too cold can affect the quality and efficacy of pharmaceutical products, leading to potential health hazards for consumers.
A point-of-use water cooler is a device used to provide chilled water at a specific location where it is needed. In the pharmaceutical industry, point-of-use water coolers are used to deliver chilled water for various applications such as cooling equipment, cooling products, and maintaining the temperature of sensitive materials.
To facilitate the safe operation of heat exchangers, Enerquip uses its double tube sheet design for cooling. These double tube sheets help prevent contamination of treated water, promoting high hygiene levels during production.
Comments Off on Heat Exchanger vs. Asphalt Heater for Asphalt Applications
At Enerquip, we have a wealth of experience working with highly viscous products like asphalt, spanning decades of dedicated work. If you’re seeking an effective solution to heat your asphalt, you may be wondering whether a shell and tube heat exchanger or an asphalt heater is the better choice. We’re here to guide you through the benefits and options of both.
Comments Off on Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Design Options for Viscous Products
Designing a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger for Viscous Applications
When designing a shell and tube heat exchanger for viscous products, such as a whey application in the dairy industry or an asphalt application in the roofing industry, there are several options that can be considered to ensure efficient and effective heat transfer. Some of these options include:
Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers for an Asphalt Application
Increase the Tube Diameter: By increasing the tube diameter, the fluid velocity will decrease, which reduces the pressure drop. This is particularly effective for viscous fluids, which require a lower fluid velocity to transfer heat effectively.
Use Baffles:Baffles are plates that are placed inside the shell of the heat exchanger to direct the flow of fluid. By using baffles, the fluid is forced to flow in a serpentine pattern, increasing the amount of time it spends in the heat exchanger and improving heat transfer.
Increase the Number of Tubes: Increasing the number of tubes in the heat exchanger increases the surface area available for heat transfer, which can improve efficiency.
Use Counter-Flow Design: A counter-current flow design can be used for a close temperature approach as it results in a larger temperature difference across the heat exchanger. In this design, the hot and cold fluids flow in opposite directions, which results in the highest temperature difference at the point of exit.
Use High Turbulence Flow: Viscous fluids require a high heat transfer. Therefore, by increasing the turbulence in the flow, the heat transfer efficiency can be improved. This can be achieved by using a fluid with a higher velocity.
Use High Velocity Flow: Going back to the whey protein example, whey protein tends to foam and create a layer of protein on the surface of the heat exchanger. By using high velocity flow, the protein can be prevented from sticking to the surface, which can improve the heat transfer efficiency.
Enerquip Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers for Viscous Applications
Overall, the design options for a shell and tube heat exchanger for viscous products will depend on the specific characteristics of the fluid being used and the desired level of heat transfer efficiency. It is important to consult with a qualified engineer to ensure that the heat exchanger is designed to meet the specific requirements of the application.
Comments Off on How Do Water Heat Exchangers Work?
Heat exchangers are important sanitary and industrial devices that enable heated fluids to be cooled for safe discharge or for cooled fluids to be heated, depending on the need. Learn more about why water heaters require heat exchangers and why they’re crucial across many operations.
Suction heaters are a type of industrial heat exchanger used in a variety of industrial contexts to heat viscous fluids, including asphalt and fuel oil, to a temperature at which they can be pumped.
Keeping entire tanks of these types of liquids at pumping temperatures can be prohibitively expensive. Suction heaters heat only the liquid being pumped through them instead of heating an entire storage tank of products. As a result, suction heaters are an economical, cost-effective option for plants and facilities in a variety of industries.
Comments Off on The Role of Tank Coils in Efficient Tank Heating & Cooling
From asphalt terminals to biofuel plants to food processing facilities, many industries rely on storage tanks to hold temperature-sensitive materials. Whether it’s keeping asphalt pumpable, blending biofuels at precise temperatures, or preventing crystallization in chemicals, maintaining proper heat is critical.
In the past, some plants relied on direct-fire burners inside tanks to heat flammable materials—a risky practice. Today, tank coils provide a safer, more efficient solution by keeping the heat transfer separate from the stored product.
Tank coils quietly work inside tanks to heat, cool, or regulate stored materials—ensuring consistent quality, safety, and efficiency. But how they’re designed, maintained, and applied makes all the difference.
How Tank Coils Work
Tank coils sit inside the tank, typically arranged in “banks” across the bottom for even heat distribution. They’re commonly fabricated from carbon steel or stainless steel for durability.
Hot oil, steam, or another heating medium circulates through the coils from an external source (such as a hot oil heater or steam generator) in a continuous loop. This controlled flow transfers heat to—or removes it from—the tank’s contents, maintaining a stable temperature.
Finned vs. Bare Pipe Coils: Which is Right for You?
Choosing between finned and bare coils comes down to efficiency, viscosity, and tank size:
Bare Pipe Coils – A simple pipe or tube, ideal for small tanks, viscous materials, or sanitary applications. They’re more cost-effective in setups that don’t require large heat transfer surfaces.
Finned Coils – These coils have thin fins welded to the pipe (either helically or longitudinally) to dramatically increase surface area—up to 12 times the heat transfer of bare pipe. For large tanks or higher heat loads, finned coils offer unmatched efficiency.
Helically wound fins are optimal for horizontal installation.
Longitudinal fins work best in vertical setups.
Hot Oil vs. Steam: Choosing the Heat Source
The heating media moving through the coils can also impact performance:
Hot oil coils are designed to transfer heat to the contents of a tank using hot oil as the heating media. The hot oil flows through the coils in a continuous loop, flowing in a serpentine fashion through the banks of coils. An industrial hot oil heater heats the oil as it passes through the coils. The hot oil then transfers the thermal energy to the stored material and circulates back through the system.
Steam coils transfer heat using steam as the heating media. Steam from a steam generator makes its way through a header in the tank coil. Steam enters the coil and flows through the bends until it returns to the header and condenses into water. As the steam passes through the pipes, it transfers heat to the stored material in the tank.
Materials of Construction
Material selection depends on your process and environment:
Carbon steel is an iron alloy that contains a small amount of carbon and very little chromium. It’s strong, durable, and often harder than stainless steel. However, it’s more prone to rust when exposed to moisture or corrosive environments, so it usually requires protective coatings. It’s commonly used in industrial equipment and refining applications where corrosion resistance isn’t a major concern.
Stainless steel is also an iron alloy but contains at least 10.5% chromium, often with nickel and other elements. This composition gives it excellent corrosion resistance, as the chromium forms a protective oxide layer on the surface. Stainless steel is ideal for sanitary or corrosive environments like food processing, pharmaceuticals, and chemical plants.
Custom Tank Coils for Your Operation
At Enerquip, we design and fabricate custom steam and hot oil coils to meet the demands of your industry. Our solutions are engineered for performance, reliability, and safety—helping you protect your products, reduce downtime, and improve energy efficiency.
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