Close collaboration between the end-user, the designer and the manufacturer:

TEMA INDIA Chief Haresh Sippy emphasized in HTRI (CC – INDIA) that the wealth of knowledge that lies with the end-user should be shared with the designer and the manufacturer. This would help the designer and the manufacturer incorporate solutions to the problems faced by the end-user during operation and maintenance of the heat exchanger.

Gasket – a critical element in heat exchangers

Responding to a question, Haresh Sippy explained the importance of sheer experience in all matters pertaining to the gasket. In dirty and corrosive services, gaskets are used to seal joints. Successful sealing of gasket is achieved by applying uniform pressure. Since pressure applied would be uniform, placement of gasket would have to be perfect. Uniformity in hardening, surface coating and cleaning of bolts and thereafter uniform tolerances in tightening with the nuts and use of appropriate grease ensures application of uniform torque on the gasket. After taking into account the above factors, a vernier caliper can be used to manually measure whether the gasket has been pressed uniformly. Specific to screw plug heat exchanger, TEMA INDIA Chief described the excessive load experienced by the gasket on account of different thermal expansion co-efficients of base and clad materials.