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Experience Exchange can do . I love fixing problems for people . I welcome a challenge and being able to provide customers with solutions is one of the most rewarding parts of my work .”
Cost consideration for heat exchangers More than half of Dillon ’ s business is comprised of engine applications . The customer reports the engine data indicating flow , heat rejection , and required temperature . He then informs the client of a suitable size that is needed to fit their specifications . This allows Dillon to establish how much material is required . He describes this as a balancing game . “ If there is too much flow , the equipment risks erosion . On the other hand , when the flow is too little , it becomes laminar or alternatively , the client would need to add turbulators ,” he said . “ You start in the middle and say we need X amount of material to accomplish this . At this point , it is crucial to find out what the needs of the application are . It is important to determine what is going to drive this product , and if there are special requirements that must be met . This is where I start the conversation ,” explained Dillon . “ Everything always goes back to the application ,” said Dillon . For example , when a customer uses their own generators to supply power with the intention of avoiding additional charges during peak demand , it is called peak shaving . “ In this scenario , a customer may find it cheaper to own a generator , burn the natural gas , and sell the power back to the grid . With that in mind , parasitic horsepower draw becomes a key characteristic that should be monitored closely ,” he added . At this point , Dillon will work out some equations to determine how much power and money
will be saved . “ This can vary from project to project .” With peak shavings , Dillon will generally lower the horsepower drawn from the motors . “ Any power I do not use with the heat exchanger , can be sold back . It is a win-win situation .”
Offshore applications Offshore projects have different sets of requirements that need to be met . “ With onshore , I can sometimes save cost , with offshore projects , this becomes challenging , and the heat transfer equipment requires special coatings ,” he stated . “ There are certain applications where the equipment does not require a special coating or material . If you send something offshore that is not galvanized or coated , the heat exchanger will have a short service life . When coatings are implemented correctly , it maximizes the equipment ’ s service life and reduces the cost of repairs .” Coatings used for offshore equipment is specialized . “ We regularly use a phenolic coating that has a good salt spray test , or alternatively , an electrodeposition is utilized . This is also known as an e-coat . The process of employing an e-coat consists of applying a protective layer to a metal object using an electrical current . This gives the equipment a corrosions resistant finish ,” he shared . “ Getting applications serviced for offshore equipment is a much more complicated endeavor than onshore .”
Material selection for heat exchangers Heat exchangers have a wide variety of materials . “ Material selection can be a tricky question . If you are looking at a pressure vessel with API 660 or
Plate and frame heat exchanger . Image courtesy of Saxon Company .
www . heat-exchanger-world . com Heat Exchanger World October 2024
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