Heat exchangers are among the most important and the most frequently used equipment at industrial sites. Regardless of the type of industrial site, the chances are high you will see this piece of equipment. Heat exchangers are vital to the functionality of plants and refineries. That is why proper maintenance of the heat exchangers is simply a must. However, heat exchanger repair requires skill, knowledgeable staff, and an understanding of the wide range of problems that can occur in heat exchangers.
- Fouling – fouling is easily the most common heat exchanger problem. It causes damage to the heat exchanger and decreases its performance. Fouling is material that builds up on in the inside of tube walls. Fouling is caused by a number of conditions, the most common of which are:
- crystallization
- corrosion
- decomposition
- polymerization and oxidation
- settlement of rust, sludge, and dust particles
- biological deposits.
- Maldistribution – irregular flow within the heat exchanger. This problem leads to decreased thermal performance.
- Turndown – the tubeside flow regime drops in laminar or transitional region, which makes the heat exchanger’s performance unpredictable and hard to control.
- Various performance issues – most other problems that occur in heat exchangers are result of properties that have been set in tubeside fluids (high viscosity, low thermal conductivity). Additionally, low transfer rates are another problem that can cause more complex issues with the heat exchanger’s functionality.
The problems listed above are common and can happen with any heat exchanger, regardless of the plant or refinery. In order to make sure the heat exchanger will continue to run smoothly, quality heat exchanger repair is needed when a problem occurs.
The signs of a quality heat exchanger repair service are:
- Efficient heat exchanger emergency repair – the last thing any plant or refinery needs is an incompetent repair company that cannot perform a necessary emergency repair on their heat exchanger
- Ability to meet the most stringent welding requirements – one important sign of a quality heat exchanger repair service is the ability to work with all materials
- The performed repairs meet all ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) and TEMA (Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association) requirements
The three points mentioned above are also three major reasons why our company is the best in the heat exchanger repair business. Due to our knowledgeable staff and use of the newest technology, we are able to perform emergency repairs on heat exchangers. Regardless of the material, the company meets all welding requirements and incorporates various techniques like SAW (Submerged Arc Welding), GTAW (Gas Tungsten Arc Welding), GMAW (Gas Metallic Arc Welding), and SMAW (Shielded Metallic Arc Welding). The company’s department of Quality Assurance makes sure that all repairs meet the required standards set up by ASME and TEMA. Additionally, our QA department helps our clients determine the work that has to be done and identify less critical repairs they want us to conduct, which speeds up the process and decreases critical unit downtime.
For more information feel free to contact us, or simply request a plant tour where we can inform you about the work done in all of the company’s departments.