What is jacketing?
Jackets are insulators that cover processing components, including pipes, valves and filters, accessories and pumps. The valve cover is wrapped around the valve and the hooks are firmly joined together with the help of the rope. Jackets are used for thermal insulation.
A range of thermal-jacketed products is available for organic and inorganic chemical processors. pharmaceutical plants, polymer producers. petrochemical plants and food processors.
Generally, jacketing that has been specifically fabricated falls into one of three broad categories: standard, swaged and hybrid systems.
Standard jacketing:
Typically, this system provides uniform application of heat by covering the pipe or valve (core) from the flange. The jacket is welded to the back of the flange so oversize valves must be used to accommodate bolts.
Swaged jacketing:
This system is often used where protection against cross-contamination is required and where temperature discontinuities at flanges can be tolerated. Swaged jacketing can be less expensive than standard jacketing because small in-line flanges can be used, also referred to as capped or partial jacketing.
Hybrid jacketing:
This method utilises a combination of both swaged and standard jacketing systems as well as removal and special jacketing. Straight-line piping may use swaged jacketing while valves and fittings employ standard or removable jacketing to eliminate temperature discontinuities at critical flow areas.
Jacketed valves:
All types of valves can be fully jacketed by fabricating techniques, including many valves not available with integrally-cast jackets.
Standard fabrication includes modifying the valve to accept oversize flanges. extending the body as necessary to ANSI standard. then adding the full jacket ensuring that the interior tolerances remain the same as the original unjacketed valve.
Advantages of jacketing:
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Unit construction
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High rates of heat transfer from the heating medium to the process
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Ability to maintain processing temperatures within close tolerances
Disadvantages of jacketing:
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The limited selections available for jacketed components
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Relatively long deliveries for these components
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Inconsistencies of quality of the jacketed components due to the lack of industry-wide fabrication standards