PUMPS AND COOLERS
'Yltems may be responsible for early failures. Stainless steel has been used in
plate coolers for duty with sea water, but proved unsuccessful although it is
lultable for other applications.
Fig. 9 Cooler plate
and materials normally used in tube coolers for sea water contact, may not be
suitable in plate coolers.
Plate material for sea water contact is titanium. This is an expensive metal but
apparently able to withstand the conditions of service. Aluminium-brass has
been used with poor results. Possibly failure of aluminium-brass has been due to
the presence of organic sulphides and other chemicals in coastal and inland
waters. (Titanium is immune from this type of attack.) However, other factors
such as the turbulence in plate coolers or changes in the materials of sea water
The joint material is normally nitrile rubber which is bonded to the plate with
luitable adhesive such as Plibond. Other joint materials for higher temperatures
are available, such as compressed asbestos fibre. The nitrile rubber is suitable
for temperatures up to about 100C (230F). At high temperatures the rubber
hardens and loses its elasticity. The rubber joints are compressed when the
cooler is assembled and the clamping bolts tightened. Overtightening can cause
damage to the chevron corrugated plates so the cooler stack must be tightened,
and dimensions checked, during the process. Joints must be adequately clamped
to prevent leakage.
All liquid inlets and outlets are at the fixed end plate. The movable end sits in
the horizontal carrying bars and the plates are also located and supported by
these. The flow ports at the corners of the plates are arranged so that the cooling
liquid and the liquid being cooled pass between alternate pairs of plates. The
.ketch (Fig. 10) illustrates the way in which the liquids flow. Best efficiency is
obtained by liquids moving in opposite directions i.e. contra-flow. Joint leakage
Is visible externally except for the double joint at the ports on one side of the
plate. A drain hole acts as a tell-tale for this section (see Fig. 9).
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
Plate coolers are smaller and lighter than a tube cooler glVlng the same
performance. No extra space is needed for dismantling (a tube cooler requires
enough clearance at one end to remove the tube nest). Their higher efficiency is
shown by the smaller size. Plates can be added, in pairs, to increase capacity and
similarly damaged plates are easily removed, if necessary without replacement.
Cleaning is simple as is maintenance. Turbulent flow helps to reduce deposits
which would interfere with heat flow.
In comparison with tube coolers, in which tube leaks are easily located and
plugged, leaks in plates are sometimes difficult to find because the plates cannot
be pressurized and inspected with the same ease as tube coolers. Deteriorating
joints are also a problem; they may be difficult to remove and there are
sometimes problems with bonding new joints. Tube coolers may be preferred
for lubricating oil cooling because of the pressure differential. Cost is another
drawback; there are a large number of expensive joints on plate coolers and the
plates are expensive.
METHODS OF SERVICING
The difficulty of removing old gaskets is overcome in factory servicing by the use
of a liquid nitrogen spray. The plates are passed through a chamber containing
the spray, on a conveyor belt. The intense cold makes the gasket brittle and as
the metal of the plate contracts the resultant stresses set up between gasket and
plate cause the glued joint to fail. It is sufficient to bang the plates once or twice
after cooling to remove the joint debris.
Plates are cleaned before joint removal so that they are ready for crack
detection afterwards. For this, they are sprayed with dye penetrant and viewed
under an ultra-violet light to show up any defects. New joints are fitted using a
thermo setting adhesive which is cured in an oven.
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