Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Useful Information On 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.

There are a number of resultant effects caused by temperature change. These include thermal damage or rapid change in thickness, partial crystallization and possible solidification. The above issues can however be avoided by using jackets on the valves and piping. Jacketing refers to the process of fitting another tube/pipe over the piping, this is done to allow fluids pass through the tube fitted over the inner one. The same procedure is done 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.

The process is commonly done using materials that are made of stainless steel. On the other hand, other materials can also be used especially in process that entail high temperatures. For example in the manufacture of sauces, certain syrups and salty mixtures, other materials may be used. Such process usually use specialty alloys since the material used should have a higher resistance to corrosion.

Valves used in a production line in a factory need special treatment because of the role they play. For instance, valves are susceptible to damage by elevated temperatures. Thus, they are protected using jackets in the same way that piping is protected. The importance of protecting valves is that if it fails, the affected production line shuts down. This can cost the company a lot of time and money because production can only continue after the broken valve has been replaced or repaired.

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.

Currently there are various configurations of jackets in the market. There are certain jackets that can be placed around the valve. Such jackets can readily be removed when need arises. One of the most common removable jacketing is the bolt-on jacketing. A two-piece aluminum casting is used to make a bolt-on jacketing.

Bolton jacketing and other forms of jacketing can be adjusted in size to suit various valve sizes. Shapes can be customized to fit the various models of valve as well. They have heat transfer mastic with a thin layer used to transfer heat in any direction. They consist of inlets and outlets which act as mediums for heat transfer. Mediums of heat transfer use glycol, vapor, water, steam, and hot oil.




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