Thornhill heat exchanger testing and gaskets

Thornhill New Zealand, in addition to supplying gaskets, provides advice on the best material for applications and works with clients on the process and cleaning of heat exchangers to increase gasket life.

Plate heat exchanger gaskets can be manufactured in a range of polymers depending on the type and use. Material choice is critical for the gasket life and integrity. Even within the different materials there are variations of the same polymer, which can provide for a different end use. Thornhill can work with companies to provide advice as to the best material and grade to ensure gasket life and integrity. Thornhill has worked with a number of processing companies in New Zealand to provide them with new options on their gaskets. This has resulted in them now getting increased life from their gaskets.

Thornhill manufactures a complete range of gaskets, for all makes of heat exchangers including Tetra, Sondex, APV and Hisaka.

Thornhill also offers the latest in testing technology being the HDS Method, which uses a helium gas. The system was originally developed for crack testing of aircraft fuel tanks, where speed accuracy and cost were all major considerations. In Australia, both military and commercial aircraft fuel tanks are tested using this system. In New Zealand, the testing has detected cracks in heat exchangers, which have not previously been detected, and allowed for a more proactive approach to maintenance of heat exchangers.

For heat exchangers this method offers a number of advantages over the more traditional methods: it is not invasive, uses no chemicals in the heat exchanger, is able to locate extremely small holes, due to the particle size of helium; is very quick as a complete heat exchanger can be done in around 15 minutes; and the process can be calibrated easily to international standards using gas samples,

In addition to heat exchanger services, the company also offers an airline leak detection service using ultrasonics. This method is not only confined to compressed air, it can also be used for checking vacuum leaks, such as in evaporators to improve performance, reduce cavitation problems and save on vacuum pump maintenance.

Another application is testing for leaks in cooling jackets on silos and tanks. This can save users having to remove the outside skin and so save time and money.