60
Tube Products International March 2014
products & developments
Investment in corrosion protection
Corrosion of the fins leading to blocking
of the airside flow in air-cooled heat
exchangers is one of the greatest
problems in their operation and
maintenance.
As air passes over the lower rows of
finned tubes it is heated, and corrosive
deposits of the salts in solution form
on the fins themselves. Along with the
salts, the air also carries dirt and dust
and possibly small concentrations of
chemicals.
Blocked and fouled fins reduce the
heat exchanging efficiency of the tubes.
Tube Supply International Ltd recently
installed new plant in the UK capable
of applying an electrophoretic coating
to closely pitched fins (8, 9, 10 or 11
fins/inch or even closer) on tubes up to
12.2m long (40ft).
The electrophoretic process ensures
that an even coating of a chemically
resistant paint completely covers the
finned and bare tube outer surfaces,
even down to the fin base.
This chemically resistant paint (PPG
paint) has a very smooth external
surface to which neither the fouling layer
nor the salts from evaporation adhere,
resulting in the life of the external fins
being extended by three to five times
when compared with the life of a unit
without coating.
Although theplant is new, andparticularly
developed for finned tube applications
within Europe, there are plants in the
USA that have been running in reduced
scale an almost identical process for
several years.
Tube Supply International Ltd
– UK
PREP tool for socket welding
Asahi/America, Inc, an expert in
thermoplastic fluid flow technologies,
has introduced the socket welding
PREP tool for removal of oxidation on
thermoplastic pipe and fittings before
welding.
The new PREP (peel, remove, edge
and plane) tool offers three-in-one
convenience to quickly prepare a pipe
before socket welding by removing
the natural oxidation that occurs on
polyolefin thermoplastics (PE and PP).
Using the tool, the outside layer of the
pipe is easily removed, the edge of the
pipe is bevelled to ensure easy insertion
into the socket fitting, and the face of
the pipe is planed to straighten uneven
cuts. An added benefit of this one-step
process is the marking of the desired
insertion depth.
The PREP tool features maintenance-
free operation and can reduce overall
piping system installation time. The tool
is in accordance with DVS and ASTM
Type B socket standards and is available
in six sizes, from ½" to 2". PREP tools
are available individually or in kit form,
and manual handles and spare blades
are also available.
Asahi/America
specialises
in
providing solutions for fluid handling
systems, individualised to meet
customer requirements. The company
manufactures corrosion resistant
thermoplastic fluid handling products,
including valves, actuators, pipe and
fittings, and maintains an extensive
custom fabrication department, as
well as providing on-site consultation,
supervision and training where required.
Asahi/America, Inc
– USA
Asahi/America’s
PREP tool
Pipe fittings for process control
Heubach International is an ISO
9001:2008 certified company engaged
in importing, supplying and exporting a
wide array of pipe fittings and ferrous
and non-ferrous material.
The company’s products, in various
shapes and sizes, are used for
process control and instrumentation
connections between pipe size and
tube size.
Products are sourced from trusted
vendors, and the company employs
auditors to check the quality of products
at the time of procurement to ensure
the flawlessness of the end product.
Products are stored at the company’s
spacious warehouse in order to meet
the bulk requirements of clients.
Backed by sound industry experience,
the company is able to offer a range
of stainless steel products in various
sizes, thicknesses, lengths and grades
as per clients’ requirements.
Heubach’s carbon steel products
include tubes, flanges, forged fittings
and butt weld fittings.
Heubach International
– India
