Plate heat exchangers are designed to provide highly efficient heat transfer for various industrial applications, like chemical and food processing. Regular maintenance intervals for plate heat exchangers are needed in order to maintain production efficiency. Overtime, dirt, silt, sand and other debris can build up and impact the heat exchanger’s performance and cause unplanned downtime. Heat exchangers can easily be disassembled and reassembled to allow for cleaning.
A plate heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger that uses metal plates to transfer heat between two fluids. The device is composed of a number of thin corrugated metal plates compressed together into a “plate pack” inside a frame by two pressure plates.
Maintaining these plates requires a regular and intensive cleaning process. Part of the maintenance process involves loosening and retightening the pressure plate “tightening bolts” using a quality torque multiplier. Accessing the metal plates, within the plate heat exchanger requires a disassembly process. The tightening bolts need to be loosened evenly in small steps using sequence pattern (diagonally and alternating sides), in order to prevent any overload with the individual tightening bolts and tilting the pressure plate. Once the heat exchanger is opened, the plates are removed for the cleaning process. After the plates are inserted back in, then the heat exchanger needs to be assembled back together. The tightening bolts need to be properly tightened to the proper torque specification using the torque multiplier tool.
The Mountz RG (radial gearing) torque multipliers are designed for precision tightening and loosening of all heavy-duty fastening applications. These multipliers are specially designed for heat plate exchanger applications. The torque multiplier shuts-off when the pre-set torque is achieved. It’s non-impacting and operates at a smooth, continuous rotation. The torque tool provides quick and simultaneous tightening of large plate packs when using two or more torque multipliers diagonally. Mountz offers these tools in a pneumatic and electric configuration with a torque range capacity of 413 – 3,569 foot-pounds.
These tools are suitable for many industries like dairy, chemical, pharmaceutical, marine, oil, HVAC and food & beverage. Engineered to decrease bolting time and prevent tightening failures the RG tools are a cost effective bolting solution. Mountz torque multipliers provide precision torque control, making it easier and often safer to assemble and service threaded fasteners while reducing application problems and tool costs. Making a safer world through accuracy and precision is the core purpose of Mountz, Inc.
Mountz torque multipliers increase speed and productivity, as it is faster than a hydraulic wrench and is less expensive. The torque multiplier eliminates the cumbersome set up time and slow ratcheting process of hydraulic wrenches. The multiplier tool is ergonomically safer than the harmful hammering of impact wrenches and eliminates the frequent costly repairs of impact wrenches.
Using a quality torque multiplier makes a safer world through accuracy and precision. Controlling torque is essential for companies to ensure their product’s quality, safety and reliability isn’t compromised. The failure of a five-dollar bolt that isn’t properly tightened can lead to catastrophic or latent failures. Fasteners that are insufficiently fastened can vibrate loose and excessive torque can strip threaded fasteners.
Need assistance with finding a bolting solution, contact us with any questions you may have. We can help you make the proper choice, every time.