Fluorotherm® Hybrid and Conductive Heat Exchangers

Fluorotherm Polymers Inc. announces the introduction of Fluorotherm® Immersion Coil hybrid frame heat exchangers for ultrapure and aggressive chemical heating and cooling. These heat exchangers are found in a very large variety of applications, for heating, cooling and temperature control. Applications using this product include ultrapure or DI water temperature control, environmental sampling to assure sample integrity, heat transfer in aggressively corrosive chemicals that are used in the steel, mining and metal process industries, pharmaceutical fluid handling where product purity and non-contamination is important, heating of acid plating baths for aerospace components, and sea-water handling facilities where resistance to chloride attack is essential. These are just a few examples.

              Hybrid Heat Exchanger               

In a sense, it seems counter-intuitive that a product that can be used inside a nasty, hot acid bath in a relatively coarse and rough mining or steel production environment, is also ideally suited for use in industries that are at the opposite end of the “clean” spectrum – such as drug manufacturing, water treatment in hospitals and of course in the clean room atmosphere of semi-conductor production.

A successful field evaluation of the increased open space between tubing rows and elimination of horizontal surfaces in the design of the hybrid heat exchanger was demonstrated in an automotive supplier facility using phosphoric acid based pretreatment of steel components. Phosphate salts are notoriously sticky even on “non-stick” fluoropolymer surfaces. Deposition of any salts, sludge, particulate matter or dirt inhibits heat transfer from the heating or cooling medium inside the tube into the bath solution. Phosphate salts in the bath are glutinous and sticky and are notoriously difficult to remove from heat transfer tubing surfaces with a water jet spray or low pressure steam.

Conductive Hybrid Heat Exchanger

Settling of sludge on the horizontal surfaces of the Immersion Coil heat exchanger caused a build-up that prevented full flow and contact with the tubing surface, reducing heat transfer efficiency.

The key technical features of these heat exchangers are the materials, design and construction.  They are constructed entirely of fluoropolymer materials or components encapsulated in fluoropolymers that resist chemical attack better than nearly all known materials. Fluorotherm® heat exchangers are also available in conductive formulations, where the heat transfer coefficient is well more than double than that of virgin fluoropolymers. These heat exchangers are popular with water as the heating or cooling medium, and where space in the tank is limiting.

Conductive Heat Exchanger in Acid Bath

This new product combines the best components and design geometry for efficient heat transfer. The designs, evolved from several decades of field experience, were driven by the need to inhibit particulate settling on, and fouling, of heat transfer surfaces. The particles (sludge, insoluble salts and precipitates) that fall-out from the chemical reactions occurring during metal treatment in acids, are in the form of oxides, sulfates, chlorides, phosphates and other materials.

The particle buildup over time coats surfaces, or worse, causes serious damage to the heat exchanger, interrupting production processes. At a minimum, this results in reduced heat transfer efficiency.

Conductive Heat Exchanger (Shielded)

Exotic alloy thin wall metal and graphite block heat exchangers are difficult to maintain due to rapid particulate, foulant or sludge build up during use. These heat exchangers do not inhibit foulant sticking, unlike fluoropolymers. They are expensive, and sometimes impossible to repair. The hybrid design eliminates flat horizontal surfaces upon which the salts can settle. In addition, the materials of construction have a much lower surface energy than metal or other materials, thus inhibiting particle build up. Both these features have been brought together in an optimized fashion in our hybrid design.

PVDF Frame Heat Exchanger

The hybrid heat exchanger provides a large between-tube spacing that results in free and unrestricted fluid flow. It allows for intimate contact between the fluid and the hot or cold heat exchange surfaces, thus maximizing heat transfer efficiency. The conductive heat exchangers occupy less space in the tank, and are well suited for a high-level of temperature control in baths where both heating and cooling are required. The hybrid heat exchanger is available in both virgin and conductive versions.

Other add on optional features to these design assure the highest performance over the use life of Fluorotherm®Heat Exchangers. For details contact us at [email protected] directly or on our website at http://www.fluorotherm.com/

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BIO

Author –Prabhat N. Shukla, Ph.D.

Dr. Prabhat N. Shukla started at DuPont’s Teflon® R&D. He developed processes and improvements at Parkersburg, WV, Japan and Dordrecht facilities. His technical expertise focuses on fluoropolymers, their formulation, processing, and end use. His corrosion resistant heat exchanger expertise, developed at St.Gobain, has borne fruit at Fluorotherm, with worldwide customers.

Teflon® is a trademark of the Chemours Company.

Fluorotherm® is a registered Trademark of Fluorotherm Polymers Inc.

Fluorotherm Polymers Inc., is an ISO 9001-2015 certified company.