Comments Off on Enerquip Introduces New Product Line – Compact Heat Exchangers
MEDFORD – Enerquip, a Wisconsin company that specializes in a wide variety of shell and tube heat exchangers, recently added a new line of compact heat exchangers to meet the growing demand from customers with low flow-rate applications.
Enerquip has been one of the leading providers of heating and cooling equipment for production plants and the OEM’s and system integrators that support them. The company crafts stainless steel and high alloy shell and tube heat exchangers of the highest quality, with delivery lead-times that are half of the industry standard. The size of Enerquip heat exchangers can range from the size of a loaf of bread up to 10 tons.
“Until now, we haven’t had an efficient solution for product flow rates from 1 to 10 gallons per minute,” explained Ron Herman, Director of Sales & Marketing. “These scaled down versions of our exchangers utilize smaller tubes that increase tube side velocities and turbulence, while avoiding problems with bypass seen in larger exchangers when they are used at low flow rates.”
Available in both U-tube and straight tube designs, these space-saving exchangers are easy to clean, are high quality and built to last. Enerquip’s compact exchangers are also ASME code stamped, to provide customers with peace of mind that their product and their people will be safe during production.
This new product line is perfect for small batch processes, point-of-use streams, or R&D or pilot scale applications where a smaller compact exchanger would be an advantage.
Comments Off on Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Must Meet ASME-BPE Standards
Editor’s note: Content last updated 3/7/24
In any industry, it’s important to have standards that lay out what consumers expect of the products created by manufacturers and define the processes by which these products can be created. Without standards, consumers may mistakenly purchase a subpar product that does not meet their expectations, leaves them frustrated and damages the manufacturer’s reputation.
In certain industries, compliance with these standards is absolutely critical. In any market where end users are coming in direct contact with a product or ingesting it – like the food and beverage, dairy or pharmaceutical industries – manufacturers must take every step possible to ensure the final product meets consumer expectations and is safe to consume.
To ensure that all products are high-quality, there are countless standards that govern many different industries. For example, fabricators of equipment for the dairy industry adhere to 3-A Sanitary Standards, created in the 1920s to ensure that all machinery that came in contact with milk and milk-based products created a sanitary environment.
Pressing need for pharmaceutical standards
Where the food, beverage, and dairy industries have excelled in having extensive rules and regulations regarding the environments in which products could be made, the pharmaceutical industry fell short. For many years, there was no 3-A equivalent for biopharma manufacturers that explained what sorts of materials could be used to make equipment or how that equipment needed to be treated or maintained.
Manufacturers filled the void in their own ways. Some created their own in-house standards to ensure their products would always be consistent. Many turned to the dairy industry’s 3-A standards and applied them to their pharmaceutical operations.
Though sufficient to keep products sanitary, safe and consistent, the lack of a uniform standard weighed on the industry. After numerous requests, the American Society of Mechanical Engineers collaborated to come up with the ASME-BPE (Bioprocessing Equipment) Standard.
The standard was first published in 1997 and updated several times since. With it, pharmaceutical manufacturers are better able to communicate their needs to equipment fabricators, collaborate with other companies and stay in line with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s policies and current good manufacturing practices.
ASME-BPE related to heat exchangers
The ASME-BPE standard covers a wide range of topics, but here are ten important parts related to shell and tube heat exchangers:
Material selection: Heat exchangers should be constructed of materials that are compatible with the process fluid and cleaning solutions, and which meet the purity and quality requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Surface finish: The interior surfaces of heat exchangers should have a smooth, uniform finish that is resistant to corrosion and microbial growth.
Welding and joining: The welding and joining techniques used in the construction of heat exchangers should meet the requirements of the ASME-BPE standard, including orbital welding, electropolishing, and passivation.
Design and construction: Heat exchangers should be designed and constructed in accordance with the requirements of the ASME-BPE standard, including dimensional tolerances, material specifications, and surface finish requirements.
Testing and inspection: Heat exchangers should undergo rigorous testing and inspection to ensure that they meet the quality and performance standards required by the biopharmaceutical industry.
Cleanability: Heat exchangers should be designed and constructed to facilitate thorough cleaning and sterilization, with no dead spots or areas that are difficult to access.
Surface finish measurement: The surface finish of heat exchangers should be measured using appropriate techniques, such as profilometry, to ensure that it meets the required standards.
Gasket and seal materials: The gaskets and seals used in heat exchangers should be constructed of materials that are compatible with the process fluid and cleaning solutions, and which meet the purity and quality requirements of the biopharmaceutical industry.
Pressure testing: Heat exchangers should undergo pressure testing to ensure that they can withstand the operating pressures and temperatures required by the biopharmaceutical process.
Documentation: All aspects of the design, construction, and testing of heat exchangers should be fully documented, with detailed records of materials, processes, and inspections maintained for regulatory compliance and quality assurance purposes.
Understanding your operation’s needs
Your operation likely comprises multiple systems and units to produce various products, each with its own unique requirements and features.
Certain sections of the standards will relate more closely to specific parts of your operation. For instance, your high-sensitivity processes require the strictest adherence to the standards since they come into direct contact with the product. Such processes need highly cleanable surfaces with many requiring electropolished finishes. It is important to choose appropriate materials for not only the interior surfaces but also exterior surfaces.
In contrast, low-sensitivity processes do not come in contact with the product. Rather, they support the systems that do. Therefore, it is important to carefully fabricate low-sensitivity processes to ensure a sanitary environment. However, these processes do not need to be as high-grade as the ones that directly touch the final product, such as tank jacket systems.
A seat at the ASME-BPE table
Preferred equipment suppliers like Enerquip proactively participate in the ASME-BPE committee meetings to help shape the standards that apply to shell and tube heat exchangers. If your pharmaceutical manufacturing operations require new or upgraded shell and tube heat exchangers, we invite you to connect today.
Comments Off on Why Adding a Sump to Your Heat Exchanger is a Smart Move
Looking to make your shell and tube heat exchanger more efficient and easier to maintain? Adding a sump could be the simple upgrade that makes a big impact.
Why Add a Sump?
If your heat exchanger is being used as a condenser, integrating a sump can save space and reduce piping by eliminating the need for a separate condensate tank. Plus, it allows for the addition of high- and low-level control ports, sight glasses, vacuum lines, and other process connections—giving you more control with less hassle.
Keep the Gunk Out
Another big advantage? Debris management. If your system uses river water or another source prone to sediment, a sump helps capture silt and other particles before they clog up the tube bundle. By tilting the heat exchanger toward the sump, debris naturally settles out, keeping your system running efficiently and reducing maintenance downtime.
With optional level controls and sight glasses, you can even monitor buildup and flush it out before it becomes a problem.
Looking for more ways to improve your heat exchanger setup? Let’s talk!
Comments Off on AHC To Participate in 19th Annual NISTM Conference & Trade Show in Orlando, FL
Once again this year, representatives from American Heating Company will be attending the National Institute for Storage Tank Management’s annual Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show. American Heating Company was a participant in last year’s NISTM Aboveground Storage Tank Conference and Trade Show as well as previous years’, and is excited to be on board again in 2017.
This year’s conference will take place in Orlando, FL at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel.
What to Expect at the 2017 NISTM Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show
The annual NISTM event is a great opportunity to meet and network with other professionals in a variety of industries that utilize aboveground storage tanks. The conference is geared specifically towards engineers, managers and other individuals directly involved with operations, construction, spill protection and compliance related to aboveground storage tanks. These professionals work in a variety of fields, including:
Throughout the conference, you’ll have the chance to attend sessions discussing a variety of topics, including:
Recent issues in the aboveground storage tank industry
New technological advances
API standards
Tank cleaning
Inspections
Leak protection
Safety regulations
You’ll also have the chance to glean knowledge from nationally recognized experts and touch base with clients and competitors to get the latest scoop on what’s going on in the industry and what’s next for your business.
NISTM Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show Details
The 2017 NISTM Aboveground Storage Tank Conference & Trade Show is slated to be a three day event, taking place from Tuesday, April 18th through Thursday, April 20th, 2017.
As previously mentioned, this year’s event is being held at the Rosen Shingle Creek Hotel in Orlando, Florida. All events and information sessions, including the 10th annual golf tournament, will be held on the premises.
If you are interested in registering for this year’s conference, visit the NISTM website or call them at (800) 827-3515.
Where to Find American Heating Company at the 2017 NISTM Conference
We’ll be participating in the trade show at this year’s conference! You can find us at booth #111 in the Gatlin Ballroom at the Rosen Creek Hotel. We’ll be in the same location as last year.
Feel free to mix and mingle with us at other conference events as well. We’d love to connect with you and share how our thermal fluid heaters and industrial heating systems could benefit your organization.
Connect with American Heating Company at the 2017 NISTM Conference
Want to schedule a meeting with us ahead of time? Call us at (715) 748-5888 or contact us online to make an appointment with one of our representatives. We look forward to seeing you in Orlando!
Comments Off on Stopping leaks in their tracks: Part 2
A surprise leak in a shell and tube heat exchanger is never a good thing. At best, it will cause down time, resulting in lost revenue. At worst, it could lead to cross-contamination, fouled product, damaged equipment or even a product recall.
However, leaks are bound to happen sooner or later as a piece of equipment ages. There are ways to slow down the aging process. For example, investing in a stainless steel shell and tube heat exchanger will typically result in a much longer lifespan of the equipment than a cheaper material. But the best way to avoid leaks is to be ready for them.
Conducting regular tests on a shell and tube heat exchanger can help you detect small leaks before they become big problems. There are many ways to check out the integrity of your tubes, including:
1. Helium testing
Helium gas can be very useful to hunt down a leak while a heat exchanger is offline. The gas is pumped into the shell side of the exchanger and overpressurized, according to Plant Services. The helium is forced through the vessel and seeps through any holes, welding flaws or cracks in the tubes.
A helium mass spectrometer is attached to each tube to detect the presence of helium. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, this method is effective due to the mass spectrometer’s high sensitivity
2. Acoustical testing
As anyone who has ever slowly let air out of a balloon knows, leaks tend to have a unique sound. This is the idea behind acoustical testing. A microphone is required, as an air leak in a heat exchanger usually isn’t noticed by the average ear. The pitch of the sound gives the inspector clues as to the size, shape and location of the flaw, the IAEA explained.
Plant Services noted that this method can also be used to identify other imperfections as well, including fouling, wall loss and corrosion. Another benefit to acoustical testing is that it can be done quickly; tubes can be tested in as little as 9 seconds. Additionally, it doesn’t require a trained expert to perform these tests. However, a drawback of this method is that it isn’t as sensitive as other types of tests, such as helium testing or dye penetration. Additionally, this should be performed while the equipment is offline, as sounds from normal processing could interfere with the microphone’s ability to pick up sounds of leakage.
3. Dye penetration
Dyes can highlight seams, slight cracks and other imperfections that are difficult to see with the naked eye. This fact is what makes the dye penetration method so intuitively effective. When a leak is suspected, the location is painted with a low viscosity fluid with a tendency to quickly migrate along surfaces. If a leak is present, the fluid will make its way to the other side of the painted wall. This test is simple, inexpensive and sensitive to smaller leaks.
4. Chemical reactions
Some basic chemistry knowledge can go a long way when a simple solution to a complex problem is needed. Some gases commonly used in heat exchangers, such as ammonia, will produce a chemical reaction upon coming in contact with a particular element. In the case of ammonia, pumping hydrochloric acid into the exchanger will result in the formation of ammonium chloride gas. This is identified by white plumes resembling smoke or fog.
When introducing new chemicals to a shell and tube heat exchanger, it’s important to be sure that they won’t react badly with any substances that are in the tubes or the exchanger itself.
If you find that you need to replace or repair your shell and tube heat exchanger because of small leaks that could become bigger and more problematic, contact the experts at Enerquip. Our team of in-house engineers will work with you and your team to determine the best solution for your operation.
Did you miss part 1 of stopping leaks in their tracks? Read it here
Comments Off on At Enerquip Integrity is our Core Value
When your reputation is on the line, you can trust Enerquip to provide the quality, performance and on-time delivery that you need to keep your shell and tube exchanger project on track.
Comments Off on O-Ring and Gasket Changing Procedure
Our knowledgeable heat exchanger experts walk you through the O-Ring and gasket changing procedure. Proper maintenance is crucial for extending the life of your exchanger.
The chemical industry depends on heat exchangers that prevent cross-contamination while ensuring safety and corrosion resistance. Discover more in this video, then learn more about Enerquip’s thermal solutions for the Chemical industry.
In this video, Enerquip’s heat exchanger experts break down how davit arm assemblies can make your shell and tube heat exchangers more user-friendly, simplifying maintenance for your crew in the long run.
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