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44 TUBE PRODUCTS INTERNATIONAL May 2017
Fi t t ings , valves , f langes & connectors
Reducing the risk of unplanned heat
exchanger downtime
Getting the best plate heat exchanger
performance requires preventive
maintenance, especially for hygienic
applications within the food, dairy,
beverage, pharmaceutical and home
and personal care industries. However,
each process system has different
parameters that affect the heat transfer
and sealing efficiencies of the plates
and gaskets.
A gasket, its material properties and its
construction are specifically selected
to provide optimal sealing performance
for its intended application.
Knowing exactly when to replace
gaskets is almost impossible, since
the timing varies depending on the
application, but over time all gaskets
wear due to natural ageing as well
as the temperature,
pressure and stress
of normal operating
conditions.
Without preventive
maintenance, opera-
tors risk potentially
costly unplanned
downtime.
Factors to be consid-
ered include temper-
ature and pressure,
with higher operating
temperatures and
pressures causing
more wear and tear
on the gaskets;
and compression –
gaskets are subjected
to local stress from
the moment the
plates are tightened. In addition, spare
gaskets should be stored in a sealed
bag, in a cold, dry and dark place, and
away from ozone-producing equipment
such as machines or light armatures.
Alfa Laval is a provider of specialised
products and engineering solutions
based on its key technologies of heat
transfer, separation and fluid handling.
The company’s equipment, systems
and services are dedicated to
assisting customers in optimising
the performance of their processes.
The solutions help them to heat,
cool, separate and transport
products in industries that produce
food and beverages, chemicals and
petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals,
starch, sugar and ethanol.
Its products are also used in power
plants, aboard ships, oil and gas explo-
ration, in the mechanical engineering
industry, in the mining industry and
for wastewater treatment, as well as
for comfort climate and refrigeration
applications.
Alfa Laval – Sweden
FET acquires Cooper and Innovative
Forum Energy Technologies has
acquired the assets of Cooper Valves
and a 100 per cent ownership interest in
Innovative Valve Components.
Based in Texas, USA, Cooper Valves
manufactures Accuseal® metal-seated
ball valves engineered to meet Class
VI shut-off standards for use in severe
service applications, as well as a full
line of cast and forged gate, globe
and check valves. Innovative Valve
Components, in partnership with
Cooper Valves, commercialised critical
service valves and components for
the power generation industry. Prady
Iyyanki, Forum’s president and chief
operating officer, commented, “The
Cooper Valves and Innovative Valve
Components acquisitions fit with our
strategy of increasing our product
offering to midstream and downstream
customers. Importantly, Cooper
complements our product offering with
high specification, engineered valves.
The capabilities of Forum’s valve
solutions product offering and Cooper
Valves are expected to benefit each
business as they are integrated. We
welcome the Cooper employees to
Forum.”
Forum Energy Technologies is a global
oilfield products company, serving the
drilling, subsea, completions, production
and infrastructure sectors of the oil and
natural gas industry. Its products include
highly engineered capital equipment as
well as products that are consumed
in the drilling, well construction,
production and transportation of oil and
natural gas.
Forum is based in the USA, with
manufacturing and distribution facilities
strategically located around the world.
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc –
USA
Alfa Laval FrontLine gasketed
plate heat exchanger