Temperature Control

KW Designed Solutions has developed and engineered Pressure Vessels with Temperature Control Systems (TCS) cleverly incorporated into the design.

Heating & Chilling - Internal Tube Heat Exchangers provide direct and relatively efficient energy transfer into the test medium, however, External Jacketed Heat Exchangers are used when there is a requirement to maximize the internal working volume of the Pressure Vessel.

The Heat Exchangers are coupled with proprietary oil or water Temperature Control Units (TCU) which ensure constant and stable temperature control between -50°C and 400°C. 

Heating only - Electric Band Heaters clamped directly on to the Vessel Body and controlled using PID process controllers provide a super-efficient and highly accurate means of heating the test media.  Single Ceramic Knuckle Band Heaters are used for smaller Vessels, however, several Band Heaters, spanning multiple zones help to provide uniform heat distribution for medium to large Vessels.

Insulation - All KWDS Temperature Control Systems are supplied with a bespoke Armaflex Insulation System to ensure minimal heat loss and maximum system efficiency; this is inclusive of all the insulation required for the Pressure Vessel and the associated pipework.

To further improve the efficiency of our Temperature Control Systems, Agitation of the test medium is a viable option and one to be considered.   Thermal analysis using the latest Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software can also be performed to ensure optimum performance.

KW Designed Solutions has a range of previously supplied Temperature Control Systems on offer, alternatively, we can engineer a solution to meet the customer’s specific requirements. 

Features

• Temperature: -50°C to 400°C
• Size: Between Ø50mm to Ø1000mm bore and depths of 100mm to 2000mm
• Volumes: 0.25 litre to 1500 litre
• Linear temperature control with low hysteresis
• Internal Tube Heat Exchangers – located internal of Vessel Bore
• Jacket type Heat Exchangers – fitted to OD of Vessel body
• Electrical Band Heaters also fitted with integral cooling fans
• Armaflex Insulation Systems
• Real-time Data Acquisition

Benefits

• Compact integral design ensures minimal volume/space loss but maximum efficiency
• Simulate real environmental conditions; variable heating and cooling functionality whilst at high pressure
• Simple and easy touchpad operation
• Allows highly accelerated age testing of material samples in aggressive media
• Provides full API 6A PR2 Temperature Cycling capability

Applications and Customer Uses

Pressure Vessels supplied with Temperature Control Systems have proved to be common choice for our customers who work within the Subsea, Materials and Chemical Research industry sectors.  

Laboratories conducting advanced Materials and Chemical Testing use temperature control for their HPHT Autoclaves where they are generally conducting accelerated ageing tests. 

Those customers manufacturing equipment for the Subsea industry heat & chill the test media to simulate sea water temperatures.  Using Heat Exchangers and TCU’s this allows them to accurately control the temperature for R&D or Production FAT of their in-house manufactured products in line with API 6A.  Not only are they able to conduct static low or high temperature testing, but it also allows them to carry out temperature cycling between -20°C and 200°C for the duration of the test.