Monday, September 10, 2018

Useful Information Regarding Jacketed Valves

By Matthew Patterson


The term jacket refers to insulators that are used for covering processing components. These components vary a lot and they include filters, pumps, valves, pipes, and accessories. The main purpose that jackets are used to serve is to provide thermal insulation. The cover is wrapped around the item by joining hooks firmly together using ropes. This setup is to be maintained as long as the item is in use.

There are several different products that are thermal-jacketed and used in factories. The jacketed valves find use in both organic and inorganic chemical processors. Pharmaceutical plants, polymer producers, food processors and petroleum plants are among the industries that use products that are jacketed. Jackets are categorized under three broad categories which are standard, swaged, and hybrid systems.

Among the most regularly utilized jacketing systems are the standard jacketing. These systems are preferred since uniform heat application is allowed for by covering pipes and valves from the flange. The core is the name used when referring to the body of the valve or pipe. The jacket is usually welded onto the flange. This means one should use oversize valves so that bolts can be accommodated.

Swaged jacketing is not in common use. It is only used in special cases. For instance, it finds use in cases where cross-contamination needs to be prevented. One condition of using swaged jacketing systems is that temperature discontinuities at the flanges must be able to be tolerated. Usually, swaged jacketing are cheaper in comparison to standard jacketing. The reason for this is that small in-line flanges can be used with swaged jacketing to form what is called partial or capped jacketing.

As suggested by the name, both swaged jacketing and standard jacketing can be combined to produce hybrid jacketing. Hybrid jacketing may also use removal and/or special jacketing. Swaged jacketing can be used to jacket straight-line piping. On the contrary, standard or removable jacketing can be used to jacket valves and fittings. This would assist in preventing discontinuities of temperature at very important flow areas.

All valve types can be jacketed seamlessly, thanks to contemporary technology. Standard fabrication technique allow for modification of valves using a number of techniques. Normally, the valve body is elongated as required in order to reach specific standards. The jacket is added upon completion of the modification. After the jacketing, the valve has to maintain an internal tolerance similar to that of the unjacketed valve.

There are many reasons that make it necessary to place a jacket around a valve. These reasons are also the advantages of jacketing. First, jacketing makes it possible to maintain processing temperatures within close tolerances. Secondly, high rates of heat transfer are achieved from the heating medium to the process. Lastly, it is possible to do unit construction with jacketing.

There are also a few disadvantages that are associated with jacketing. Some of them include relatively long component deliveries and presence of limited options of components that are jacketed. In addition to that, there are no fabrication standards in the industry. Major inconsistencies have been caused in components and products produced due to lack of industry-wide standards.




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