TLC For Your Furnace - Avoiding Premature Failure of Heat Exchangers

Ever notice how your car seems to run better right after an oil change, especially if you wash and wax it? Well, it's the same for your furnace... don't laugh, I'm serious!

The main component of heating units, both forced air and hot water, is the heat exchanger. This component takes the heat produced by burning fuel and transfers it to the water or air for distribution throughout the house. In a hot water system this component is usually concealed from view, and in a forced air unit only 10 to 25% (sometimes it's completely hidden) of this component is typically visible without disassembly.

Cut-away view of a modern forced-air gas furnaceModern forced-air gas furnace:

1. Solid-state furnace control (Fan assembly visible at lower rear)

2. Draft inducer (fan-forced exhaust)

3. Igniter and flame sensor

4. Gas valve and manifold

5. Gas burners

6. Heat exchanger(s)

7. Air filters

(Configuration will vary between models)

What usually makes heat exchangers inoperative is developing a hole or a crack that allows the hot water to escape, or exhaust from the combustion fuel to escape into the interior air of the home. Constant heating and cooling from years of use will eventually cause a heat exchanger to crack, however some last longer than others. Under ideal conditions, many survive well beyond their predicted life spans.

It seems regular cleaning and maintenance play a factor in life expectancy, as does the environment surrounding the unit. Damp environments tend to assist the build-up of rust on the heat exchanger, shortening its life, while dry, clean environments tend to increase the life span of most furnaces.

Reduced airflow...

Dirty air filters and fan blades, dirty ductwork and obstructed air vents can all contribute to wear on fan motors, reduced efficiency and even premature failure of heat exchangers. Fuel-fired forced-air furnaces are prone to overheating due to obstructions to airflow. Modern furnaces are designed to shut down if temperatures become dangerously high... however, moderately elevated internal temperatures caused by dirt, dust and debris may not be high enough to switch off a furnace, while remaining high enough to cause metal fatigue over extended periods of time.

An annual internal inspection by a licensed burner mechanic or gas fitter, including cleaning and testing for exhaust leaks, should cost between $50 and $100. Considering the implications, I'd say that's a real bargain! Why not have your furnace inspected, and treat yourself to some peace of mind? For those of you with gas furnaces or wood stoves, a carbon monoxide (CO) detector ($30-$45) is an inexpensive means of protection against the possibility of exhaust leaks, between inspections.

http://ezinearticles.com/?TLC-For-Your-Furnace---Avoiding-Premature-
Failure-of-Heat-Exchangers&id=99698

Easiheat system replaces heat exchangers

A single Easiheat engineered system from Spirax Sarco has replaced two bulky shell-and-tube heat exchangers at Abbott Murex's site in Dartford.

The change has delivered reduced maintenance and more space in the plant room.

Abbott Murex is a subsidiary of Chicago-based Abbott Laboratories and produces diagnostic tests designed to protect the blood supply from infectious agents.

The Easiheat system uses plant steam to produce on-demand domestic hot water for sinks and showers throughout the Dartford site.

'The two shell-and-tube heat exchangers were 25 years old and were starting to develop leaks,' says Abbott Murex's engineering facilities manager, Peter Phillips.

'They also took up a lot of space and were difficult to maintain.' The old exchangers also suffered periodically from a build-up of scale and had to be completely stripped down for insurance inspections every other year.

The steam-to-hot-water plate heat exchanger at the heart of the Easiheat system presents no such problems.

'We initially thought we needed to buy two Easiheats, but after talking to Spirax Sarco, we decided that this unit is robust enough and sufficiently easy to maintain for us to rely on just one,' says Phillips.

'That made it a very cost-effective option.' The company purchased a spare set of heat exchanger plates and gaskets at the same time as the Easiheat system itself.

This means that in the unlikely event of a leak or blockage occurring within the exchanger, engineers should be able to fix the problem and have the unit up and running again within an hour.

However, there hasn't been a single problem with the Easiheat unit since it was installed almost a year ago.

http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/spx/spx166.html

Tranter Heat Exchangers expand range of gasket and welded heat exchangers

Tranter’s range of gasketed plate heat exchanger products are built on a module-based concept supporting combinations of connections, plates and frames from a number of different types of exchangers.

Tranter heat exchangers are able to be easily dismantled for maintenance, inspection and cleaning. Plates are able to be easily added or replaced, supporting changed conditions and easy expansion and adaptation.

The company’s range of welded plate heat exchangers are designed for compact applications in extreme pressures and temperatures that surpass the capabilities of a gasket solution. The plates are small in size and require minimal maintenance.

Tranter welded plate heat exchangers are able to handle two-phase mixtures, gases and liquids, and all at low and high temperatures and high pressure.

http://www.ferret.com.au/c/Tranter-Heat-Exchangers-Former-Swep/Tranter-Heat-Exchangers-expand-range-of-gasket-and-welded-heat-exchangers-n828597

Tranter Heat Exchangers expand range of gasket and welded heat exchangers

Tranter’s range of gasketed plate heat exchanger products are built on a module-based concept supporting combinations of connections, plates and frames from a number of different types of exchangers.

Tranter heat exchangers are able to be easily dismantled for maintenance, inspection and cleaning. Plates are able to be easily added or replaced, supporting changed conditions and easy expansion and adaptation.

The company’s range of welded plate heat exchangers are designed for compact applications in extreme pressures and temperatures that surpass the capabilities of a gasket solution. The plates are small in size and require minimal maintenance.

Tranter welded plate heat exchangers are able to handle two-phase mixtures, gases and liquids, and all at low and high temperatures and high pressure.

http://www.ferret.com.au/c/Tranter-Heat-Exchangers-Former-Swep/Tranter-Heat-Exchangers-expand-range-of-gasket-and-welded-heat-exchangers-n828597

Aptiv film enhances Makatec heat exchangers

Victrex has reported that by replacing metal in its spiral plate heat exchangers with Aptiv film, Makatec has been able to enhance the exchanger's design and reduce overall systems cost.

Heat exchangers are used to transfer heat between fluids and gases.

They can also be used as condensers and evaporators.

In this design, Aptiv film is spiral bound with high-temperature-resistant glue to provide the right mixture of high-temperature performance and chemical resistance.

It provides an effective barrier against many liquids and gases, is lightweight, halogen-free, and withstands lead-free soldering process temperatures.

It is also RoHS compliant and can be used to manufacture products compliant with the same directive.

Environmentally friendly and 100 per cent recyclable, Makatec heat exchangers achieve heat transfer coefficients in the range of 1kW/m2K (176 BTU/hft2F) comparable to conventional plate heat exchangers.

The spiral design allows volume specific heat exchange areas up to 1000 m2/m2 (305 ft2/ft2).

The smooth surfaces of Aptiv film reduce the risk of residue build-up inside the heat exchanger, therefore minimising the danger of microbial contamination.

The heat exchangers are well suited for use in potable water systems and in the food sector, as well as in pharmaceutical industry and biotechnology applications.

By using Aptiv film to replace metal, Makatec has been able to achieve overall systems cost reduction.

The exchanger's simple design allows for low cost assembly even for unique specifications.

It costs less than a stainless steel exchanger and, when compared to conventional plate heat exchangers, operational costs are reduced due to the minimal pressure drop required by the pump engine.

Maintenance and service costs are also reduced due to the corrosion resistance of the Aptiv film.

Aptiv film offers the performance properties of Victrex Peek polymer, including: high temperature capability, chemical resistance, durability and scratch resistance, radiation resistance, mechanical properties, and barrier and electrical properties.
http://www.engineeringtalk.com/news/vic/vic159.html

Heat Exchangers are available with copper brazed plate.

HVAC & Radiant Heat Brazed Plate Exchangers

DHT is a manufacturer of a full range of heat exchangers and heat transfer products for over 60 years. Our standard product line includes shell and tube exchangers, brazed plate and plate and frame heat exchangers meeting ASME, U&R Stamp TEMA, HEI, API and HTRI codes. Diversified Heat Transfer now introduces an expanded line of brazed plate heat exchangers for radiant heating, snow melt, HVAC and commercial & domestic hot water applications.

A full range of brazed plate heat exchanges sizes are now available with a range that offers a choice to meet dimensioning and installation needs. Available with stainless steel plate packs with thermal output from 1,700 to 8.5 million BTU's / HR & copper brazing. Featuring a complete line of accessories and internationally accepted connection types.

In addition from Diversified Heat Transfer are industrial HVAC heating and cooling air handling coils for residential and commercial use. Plate fin, helical fin, L footed and solder bonded air coils; 3/8 to 1" o.d. tubing in stock, new and OEM replacement coils for steam and water applications. Tube bundles engineered to customer specifications with turnaround orders faster than the OEM and emergency service available. Econo Line shell and tube heat exchangers 4" to 30" steam to liquid or liquid to liquid styles.

For more information, contact Diversified Heat Transfer Inc., 1710 Flushing Avenue, Ridgewood, New York 11385 Tel: 800-221-1522 / 718-386-6666 Fax: 718-386-7809 Web: www.DHTNET.com.
http://news.thomasnet.com/fullstory/556589

SmartHeat Inc. Selected by the Chinese Government to Draft China's National Standards for Energy Savings Heat Transfer Products and Technology

NEW YORK, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- SmartHeat Inc. (Nasdaq: HEAT), (website: www.smartheatinc.com ), a market leader in China's clean technology energy savings industry, announced today that the Company has been selected by the Chinese government as one of the two main contributors in the drafting of China's national standards for the heat transfer industry. The other contributor is China Standardization Committee on Boilers and Pressure Vessels (CSCBPV), a government regulatory agency.

China has designated significant amount of its $580 billion economic stimulus plan to the energy savings industry. The establishment of national standards for the heat transfer industry reflects the Chinese government's concrete steps towards implementation of the stimulus plan in the green energy industry.

James Wang, Chief Executive Officer of SmartHeat, commented: "SmartHeat's quality energy savings products are broadly utilized in industrial, commercial, construction, manufacturing and residential applications. Being designated as a main contributor to assist in the drafting of China's national benchmarks for the heat transfer industry reflects SmartHeat's significant technological advantage and industry leading position. This is both a great honor for SmartHeat and a growth opportunity to accelerate our market share growth."

About SmartHeat Inc.

SmartHeat Inc. (www.smartheatinc.com) is a NASDAQ listed (stock symbol: HEAT) US company with its primary operations in China. SmartHeat is a market leader in China's clean technology, energy savings industry. SmartHeat manufactures standard plate heat exchangers and custom plate heat exchanger units -- technology that helps to capture and recycle waste heat thus reducing fossil fuel related costs and pollution. SmartHeat's products and technology have broad applications. SmartHeat's customers include global Fortune 500 companies as well as municipalities and industrial/residential users. China's heat transfer market is currently estimated at approximately $2.4 billion with double-digit annual growth according to China Heating Association.

Safe Harbor Statement

All statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There can be no assurance that actual results will not differ from the company's expectations. SmartHeat's actual results may differ from its projections. Further, preliminary results are subject to normal year-end adjustments. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking statements in this press release as they reflect SmartHeat's current expectations with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks described in SmartHeat's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Contact Information:
Ms. Jane Ai
Corporate Secretary
SmartHeat Inc.
Tel: 011-86-13309831658
Email: info@SmartHeatinc.com

http://news.prnewswire.com/ViewContent.aspx?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/02-09-2009/0004968431&EDATE=