The stainless steel fittings are used in industrial plant engineering, and like stainless steel fittings generally, they are used to ensure a safe and lasting connection between two pipes or ducts.
This type of stainless steel fittings is used in industrial plants where the food products to be handled are dense or hightly viscous, such that when cooled they solidify, and their transport through the piping of the plant is therefore a critical point that requires special technical applications. In these production plants the use of stainless steel fittings and accessories allows to optimally manage the flow of product and control the temperature of the processing (also fermentation) processes.
Fittings structure with stainless steel heating jacket
The jacketed stainless steel fittings are composed of a fitting or accessory in stainless steel, inside which will flow the product subject to industrial processing, covered by an external stainless steel casing in which will be made to flow hot or cold water.
The heating jacket is composed of two stainless steel shells applied on the fitting or on the stainless steel fitting (for example a stainless steel valve or a stainless steel filter) by TIG welding with internal argon gas injection to obtain a slag-free through weld. The heating jacket is equipped with an inlet and outlet connection to allow water (hot or cold) to flow into the section to be heated/cooled. These water connection fittings are of female standard GAS UNI ISO 338 and can be three sizes DN 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″.
Applications and type of jacketed stainless steel fittings
The stainless steel heating pipe fitting is perfectly suited to any type of industrial application as it can be used in a customized way according to the specific technical requirements of each plant project. In the stainless steel fittings market there is a wide range of articles with heating jacket, such as stainless steel welded curves, stainless steel tee, but also stainless steel ball valves with heating jacket, stainless steel butterfly valves with heating jacket, stainless steel crimped tubes and stainless steel filters with heating jacket.
The welded stainless steel valves with heating jacket can also be prepared with pneumatic actuator.
In addition, DIN 11851 jacketed fittings, crimped weld fittings, tri-clamp fittings with heating jacket and PN 6 crimped flanged fittings are available, PN 10, PN 16 EN1092; some companies producing stainless steel fittings and accessories with heating sheath also produce custom made stainless steel articles.
The use of stainless steel fittings with heating jacket is very widespread in the industrial plant engineering in the food sector for the processing of chocolate, granulated sugar, almond and other confectionery products to be processed semi-liquid.
Other applications in which the welded fittings with heating jacket can be used are for example the condensation of steam, through the passage of cold water in the sealed pipe to cool the vapour passing through the pipeline, and the process of abatement of the bacterial charge, by passing hot water in the cable duct that wraps around the connection through which the product to be processed is passed.
Thanks to the standard characteristics of stainless steel, such as high mechanical resistance and excellent tolerance of food processing temperatures, the stainless steel fittings with heating jacket is the ideal solution for applications that require high performance.
The versatility of application offered by the fittings with heating jacket makes it a plant component that contributes to the efficiency and safety of industrial plants, ensuring a stable connection and tight sealing between the various components of the system, minimizing the risk of leaks and failures.
Maintenance of the heating jacket fittings
The fittings with heating jacket do not require special maintenance compared to stainless steel fittings in general.
For health reasons it is important to keep all the pipes of plant sanitized and clean, including therefore also the tubes with heating jacket and the fittings with heating jacket connection.
Regular scheduled maintenance is recommended to check that all system components subject to wear, such as gaskets, are always in good condition or replaced when necessary.
The stainless steel heating jacket also requires no special maintenance. Scheduled maintenance will make it possible to check that the heating jacket is in good condition and can continue to offer its application advantages.
For the flow of water to be fed into the heating jacket it is recommended to use water softened, and therefore totally or partially free of limestone and particles.