How Gappscan aids Plate Heat Exchanger inspections in the food & drinks industry
Slash Downtime:
How Gappscan aids Plate Heat Exchanger inspections in the food & drinks industry
In the fast-paced, hygiene-critical world of food and beverage manufacturing, unplanned downtime is more than a nuisance, it’ s a potential crisis. Plate heat exchangers( PHE) are vital to many processes, yet they remain a common source of operational disruption due to undetected cracks or surface failures.
Enter Gappscan, a rapid, nondestructive integrity testing solution developed by EIT International that is transforming how operations and facilities managers approach maintenance of their PHE units. With the ability to reduce inspection time, improve safety, provide reports for traceability and eliminate the need for disassembly before inspection, Gappscan is redefining best practice for heat exchanger reliability increasing plant uptime.
Here’ s how it helps reduce your productive downtime. Traditional testing methods like dye penetrant inspections, can take up to 48 hours and require full disassembly of the unit for post-test cleaning to remove all traces of dye. In contrast, Gappscan tests can take as little as five minutes to conduct and does not require opening the heat exchanger. This shift means facilities can schedule more frequent inspections without impacting
62 FDPP- www. fdpp. co. uk production, increasing operational continuity.
Because Gappscan is a non-invasive integrity testing method, the need to strip down equipment, manage gaskets, or reassemble after testing is eliminated. This alone removes hours of manual labour and significantly lowers the risk of postmaintenance failures caused by incorrect reassembly.
Operations Managers often ask about sensitivity, such as:“ Can it detect small cracks?” Yes. Gappscan detects defects as small as 5 microns, and its accuracy has been independently validated using known defect sizes. While some legacy methods rely on unqualified procedures and anecdotal efficacy, Gappscan brings quantifiable, repeatable results to your maintenance program. Additionally, it works across different types pf PHE from plate to tubular, meaning that EIT International’ s Gappscan system is fully adaptable. For multi-line facilities with varied equipment, this versatility makes it a single-solution tool for plant-wide reliability assurance.
Unlike dye testing, which involves the use of chemicals and viscous liquids, Gappscan is a battery powered, chemical-free solution, and carries none of the electrical or inhalation risks associated with older methods. In fact, no additional safety steps are needed, it’ s inherently safe. This is critically important to food and drink processors who are under increasing pressure to meet CSR protocols, industry regulations and environmental standards which continue to tighten to control contamination outbreaks. Gappscan helps meet sustainability targets by eliminating the need for hazardous dyes and chemical disposal. Using just water and battery power, it aligns with modern environmental stewardship without compromising test quality; here’ s how the methods compare:
Time and Safety Advantages- Gappscan vs. Dye Testing:
Backed by ISO 9001 accreditation, each Gappscan system is individually numbered, annually serviced and calibrated. You not only get cutting-edge performance, but peace of mind knowing your data is trustworthy.
As pressures increase to maximise productivity uptime, ensure product safety and meet environmental targets, Gappscan stands out as an essential tool for Operations and Facility Managers worldwide. It delivers speed, safety, accuracy, and sustainability, all without disrupting production.
In an industry where every minute matters, reducing downtime isn’ t just good practice. With EIT International’ s Gappscan, it’ s best practice.
Contact the team at EIT International to discuss your requirements: www. eit-international. com