Engineering group focuses on heat exchange for sugar sector

26th April 2013

By: Anine Kilian

Contributing Editor Online

  

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Engineering solutions provider Bearing Man Group (BMG) is focusing on extending its heat exchange business by embarking on a new partnership with ultrasonic cleaning and heating engineer SA Heat Exchange, which provides BMG with manufacturing, refurbishment and repair services for all industries, particularly the sugar sector.

“In conjunction with SA Heat Exchange, BMG now offers the supply and support of an extensive range of heat exchange products that include Transon modular shell and tube heat exchangers, Blockfin heavy-duty extended fin heat exchangers and an ultrasonic cleaning and treatment service,” says BMG divisional director of engineered products Richard Strickland.

He states that Transon modular shell and tube heat exchangers, which have been used in the local sugar industry for over 35 years, are designed for sugar processing opera- tions that include coolers, economisers and mash feed heaters, as well as calorifiers, after-coolers and condensers.

“Transon systems are designed for the efficient and safe handling of hydraulic oil in large gearbox systems. These heat exchangers are used in a large sector of industry – not only as oil coolers, but also where fluid needs to cooled or heated,” he says.

Strickland adds that the heat exchanger system consists of modules that facilitate compact plant design and the efficient use of space.

“The modular design, which comprises one or more shell- and tube-type standard units, enables installations to be extended to meet increased capacity requirements and the U3 series of oil coolers and the newly designed U5 series,” he says.

Strickland notes that single and multi- module units can be arranged in horizontal or vertical configurations, depending on capacity and size requirements.

“Mounting stands are designed for simple, quick installation to match the related pipework,” he states, adding that the heat exchanger system is available in a range of steels and alloys, as well as corrosion- and abrasion-resistant materials.

He notes that fluid separation is an impor- tant safety feature of the heat exchanger system.

“In the event of seal deterioration, an atmospheric gap ensures that fluid leaks externally, preventing internal mixing and cross contamination of fluids. Elastomeric mountings enable the tube bundle to float within the shell when subjected to fluctuating temperatures, eliminating induced thermal shock loads,” says Strickland.

He explains that, for high thermal efficiency, a unique patented shell pass baffle assembly ensures unidirectional flow at relatively high velocity, eliminating dead spots, while straight tubes enable unrestricted flow.

“During maintenance, individual tubes, as well as the complete tube bundle, can be removed and replaced without disconnecting the related pipework. No special tools are required and seals are easily replaceable,” Strickland states.

SA Heat Exchange, which also focuses on the manufacture of extended fin products for the sugar industry in South Africa and in Africa, uses high-speed fin manufacturing technology to provide the ‘latest’ robust industrial-grade fin products.

“The Blockfin range includes industrial heavy-duty finned air blast heat exchangers and steam-heated air dryers, as well as coolers and heaters of oil, water, air and gas. Fins, which are manufactured from aluminium, stainless steel and copper, are slid over the tube to provide a tight fin-tube joint for minimal thermal loss,” says Strickland, adding that the quality of the tube-to-tube sheet welding process is central to the integrity of the range.

“Standard aluminium fins generally cannot withstand the cleaning operation of high-pressure jets, but these fins are robust and are able to endure this cleaning process. Modular options are available to extend the existing capacity. These systems meet stringent construction code specifications,” he notes.

Strickland also mentions another critical service for the sugar sector: an ultrasonic cleaning process that ensures that heat exchanger components are thoroughly cleaned to an exacting finish.

“The company uses an ultrasound technique to clean and treat tube plates and tube bundles; there is no need for harsh chemicals or rodding. This system is also used to clean petrochemical inlet and candle filters internally and externally, as it would not be possible to clean a filter’s microscopic pores perfectly without ultrasound,” he concludes.

Edited by Tracy Hancock
Creamer Media Contributing Editor

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