{"id":8144,"date":"2021-05-28T16:27:59","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T14:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tempco.it\/blog\/?p=8144"},"modified":"2021-05-28T16:27:59","modified_gmt":"2021-05-28T14:27:59","slug":"heat-exchangers-regeneration-it-is-not-always-necessary-to-replace-gaskets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tempco.it\/blog\/en\/8144\/heat-exchangers-regeneration-it-is-not-always-necessary-to-replace-gaskets\/","title":{"rendered":"Heat exchangers regeneration, it is not always necessary to replace gaskets"},"content":{"rendered":"

A question we are very often asked in Tempco is if during maintenance and regeneration<\/a> operations on plate heat exchangers<\/a><\/strong> the gaskets have to be all replaced<\/strong> every time. The answer is\u2026 yes and no. Which means that sometimes the substitution is necessary, sometimes not, and it depends on the kind of application involved<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

First of all let\u2019s divide two cases, the first one being heat exchangers for heating that work using vapour<\/a>. In this case, it is very likely that the exchanger will have gaskets in Ethylene-Propylene Diene Monomer (EPDM<\/strong>). This kind of gasket will result very stressed by the vapour at high temperatures<\/strong>. When opening the exchanger, it will be clear to see that gaskets are stressed, because EPDM has a lower elastic return coefficient than Nitrile or Vition. So that after 2 or 3 years of operations it looses the elastic return of a brand new gasket<\/strong>. If we don\u2019t replace them after having washed the plates and re-assembled them, we will probably encounter leaks on the exchanger. It is then suitable to replace all of the gaskets<\/strong><\/a> while at it.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, if we have a plate heat exchanger working with cold water<\/strong>, for example coming from a cooling tower<\/a> at 30\u00b0 C or from a refrigerating group<\/a>, after 3 or 4 years of operations the plates will be dirt and to be washed, but gaskets will probably look as new. It is then very likely that it will be possible to keep and re-use them<\/strong>, especially in case of clip-on gaskets<\/strong> that don\u2019t require the use of glue.<\/p>\n