The ISTEAM steam coils were the first heat exchanger product designed by Thermofin. Over the years, their evolving design has benefited from Thermofin’s significant experience with thousands of installed units. The ISTEAM coil’s purpose is to transfer heat from steam. Steam, sometimes referred to as a “wild beast” by experienced boiler operators, can be unpredictable if all aspects of the heat exchanger, either thermal or mechanical, are not controlled properly. Accordingly, Thermofin is pleased to offer a wide range of specially designed industrial steam coil heat exchangers, custom made to meet the exacting needs of your process.
OUR MODELS OF STEAM COILS
TYPE Z STEAM EXCHANGER
This is the most widely used steam coil heat exchanger model, particularly in the pulp and paper industrial sector. Its tubes are specifically bent to allow for their thermal expansion when exposed to high temperature steam. The inlet and outlet connections are at opposite ends and allow for easy vertical or horizontal installation.
TYPE AFZ STEAM EXCHANGER
The Type AFZ steam coils represent the best choice for preventing condensate from freezing, they are recommended for extremely low air temperatures. The benefits of this vertical tube installation design are related to the geometry that promotes the continuous purging of noncondensable gases from the first row of tubes and the flowing of the condensed water to the condensate main drain separately at each row. With this design the steam is fed in series to each row further enhancing the prevention of airbinding in the first row, typically the air in contact with the second row will be above freezing and not be a cause for condensate freezing concerns. Thermofin has also developed other designs that are the result of combining the aforementioned concepts. Thermofin’s strength is the development of steam coil heat exchanger solutions that match and exceed the unique needs of your operation.
TYPE VC STEAM EXCHANGER
These steam coils were specifically designed for air temperatures that are below freezing, to prevent the costly consequences of freezing condensate. The concept is to insert an open-ended shorter distribution tube within an outer fin tube thus allowing the condensate that is flowing in the annular clearance to be kept warm by the steam condensing in the distribution tube. The tubes are inclined in order to promote the condensate flow by gravity. Consequently, the type VC steam coils always have both their inlet and outlet connections at the same end of the coil. Installation may be horizontal or vertical. This type of steam coil is also ideal for conditions of operation with superheated steam.
TYPE UH STEAM EXCHANGER
This type of steam coil heat exchanger incorporates integrally bent U-tubes and a special casing design to insure a minimum of welding is used at assembly, and that the tubes can thermally expand. There is no risk of cracks at welds for these horizontally installed steam coils. This design also stands out for its ease of installation since both inlet and outlet connections are at the same end.
ROBUSTNESS AND RELIABILITY OF OUR STEAM COILS
Frequently used in industrial processes that put equipment such as heat exchangers to the test, Thermofin’s ISTEAM steam coils are designed to last. In fact, our famous extruded aluminum finned tubes render our steam coil heat exchangers extremely resistant and capable of attaining superior heat transfer duties. The fin tubes can even be cleaned with the use of high-pressure water jets, without damaging the fins! Through its mastery of every aspect of the design and fabrication of extruded aluminium finned tubes, Thermofin has achieved the development of numerous geometrical fin tubes configurations (fin pitch, diameter and thickness). With this unique know-how, Thermofin and the end user will together be able to select the perfect Thermofin product that will conjugate ideally performance and maintenance. In addition to a fully welded assembly, the use of thick plates for the casing and the headers reinforces the robustness of our steam coils.
The service life of a steam coil heat exchanger is not only dependent on the quality of its fabrication, but more importantly of the manner of its installation. Accordingly, the adequacy of its connections and attachments as well as the drainage and trapping design must respect the secrets of the trade in order to insure proper evacuation of condensate and noncondensable gases. Without adequate installation, corrosion and erosion may attack internal parts of the unit, resulting in premature failure. In the event of steam exhibiting high corrosiveness that cannot be inhibited by the introduction of chemical additives, the selection of stainless steel or other special alloys could help preserve the integrity of the heat exchangers. As with any other Thermofin heat exchanger, the ISTEAM steam coils are constructed in accordance with the highest standards of the industry, they may be registered with the local jurisdiction (CRN), stamped per ASME or designed to exceed any particular end user specifications.
OUR OPTIONS FOR THE STEAM COILS
APPLICATIONS
Some typical applications using the steam coils technology :
- Air preheaters for industrial boilers
- Heat recovery
- Wood drying coils
- Heating coils for pulp and paper process drying
- Chemical process heating
- Kiln dryers
- Unit heaters
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