Thursday, August 9, 2018

Important Facts About Jacketed Valves

By Jessica Morgan


A process system is composed of several components that work together to achieve a particular goal. A typical process system is comprised of stainless steel tanks, valves, vessels, and pumps. These components are connected to each other using stainless steel piping. During production, the system usually undergoes temperature changes in the product stream. This happens as the product flows through the various components.

The effect of the changes in temperature is thermal damage or rapid rises in viscosity. Other effects include possible solidification and partial crystallization. The use of jackets on the piping and valves can go a long way in minimizing or avoiding the problems mentioned above completely. Jacketing involves fitting another tube over the piping so as to allow a fluid to pass through the outer tube. The same is also done on valves to make jacketed valves.

Heat is transferred from or to the product system when the fluids pass through the outer tube. The fluids play the role of introduction or extraction of heat from the product system thus keeping the temperatures at a stable level. Heavy usage of jacketing is common in the confectionary, dairy, breakfast cereal, and generally the food industry.

Jacketing is majorly done using stainless steel materials. Besides stainless steel, there are other materials that can be used for jacketing. For instance, in processes involving the use of elevated temperatures like in the manufacture of certain syrups, salty mixtures, and sauces, different materials may be used. The materials used in such cases must be able to offer more resistance to corrosion. Usually specialty alloys are used in such applications.

Special treatment needs to be done on valves used in the production line of a factory since they play a very important role. For example, high temperatures can damage valves. For this reason, jackets are used to offer protection to the valve. Valves need protection since their failure can result to the whole production line failing. This will cost a company a lot of money and time because they will need to repair the valves for production to go on.

Acquisition of valves is very costly hence their protection is of much importance. Jacketing costs are much lower in comparison to acquisition of new valves or repair. In reflection to replacement and repair costs, most companies would prefer to protect their valves than let them fail and repair or protect them later.

Different configurations of jackets are available on the market. There are some jackets that are place around the valve to protect it. These kinds of jackets can be removed readily if there is need. Bolt-on jacketing is a good example of removable jacketing. It is usually made of a two-piece aluminum casting.

Bolton jacketing can be made in any size to suit valves of different sizes. The shape can also be customized to fit on valves of various models. They have a thin layer of heat transfer mastic for transferring heat in either direction of the valve. They also have inlets and outlets for transferring heating medium. Heating mediums used water, steam, hot oil vapor, hot oil, and glycol.




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