ASK JACK!
everything you wanted to know about heat exchangers (and more…)
FAQs from the everyday guy
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Below is a compilation of some of the more popular questions that have bombarded our office over the past ten years.
1. What does ASME stand for, and do I need it for my installation? How does it differ from UL?
2. What information do I need to size a heat exchanger?
3. Why can’t I use stainless steel for salt water pool applications?
4. Do I need to clean my heat exchanger?
5. How do I know if I need a plate or tubular heat exchanger?
1. What does ASME stand for, and do I need it for my installation? How does it differ from UL?
J: American Society of Mechanical Engineers (www.asme.org). ASME is a global design standard. In order for a
product to be ASME certified, it must be designed and fabricated in accordance with the universally accepted ASME
guidelines. UL, on the other hand, is an independent third party testing and certifying body (www.ul.com) .
Now, whether or not your installation requires ASME is a question that you have to answer. Sorry buddy, we can’t
help you here. You should verify with your local plumbing codes and legislations in regards to what certification is
required. Rule of thumb is that majority of the institutional, commercial, and industrial installations require it, but it would
also depend on the size of the unit, what the heat exchanger is suppose to do, the market you’re in, etc. At times it’s not
required, but someone just wants to make your life difficult and put it in the specs anyways!
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2. What information do I need to size a heat exchanger?
J: Look at your hand. Five fingers, five parameters. A heat exchanger…exchanges heat. Didn’t see that one
coming, huh? This means that whatever you want to get out of the exchanger depends on what you put into it. There are
two sides to the equation, the HOT side, and the COLD side. So, for each side, what are your fluids, what are your inlet
and outlet temperatures, what are your flowrates, what BTU do you need? Give us five numbers, and we’ll give you a heat
exchanger. Now, if five is too much to handle, give us what you have, and we’ll work with you to determine the rest.
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3. Why can’t I use stainless steel for salt water pool applications?
J: Answer is simple. The salt in your pool will corrode the stainless steel. Don’t take our word for it, just google the
question and see. It doesn’t matter who the manufacturer is, we’re talking about basic metallurgical properties. We didn’t
make it up, trust me. If you want something to last in your salt pool and not look like old swiss cheese after a few seasons,
try one of our products that are designed specifically for this purpose. Materials available are titanium and marine grade (Nicrom 24).
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4. Do I need to clean my heat exchanger?
J: Do you need to clean your heat exchanger??? How much did you spend on the thing? Don’t you want to
prolong its life, make sure it’s unclogged and free of buildup, get rid of any nasty residue in the cracks? You clean your
car, you clean your shoes, so yeah, clean your heat exchanger. And if you tell me that the unit has water in it all the time
anyways, so why bother cleaning, I’m going to throw a shoe at you. On to the next question…
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5. How do I know if I need a plate or tubular heat exchanger?
J: Good question, mate. Sometimes if you go to a manufacturer that only makes one type or the other, they’re
going to push their product on you, regardless. So let me give you a straight answer. Your application parameters will
typically dictate which design is more effective for the job. Not to say that the other one won’t work, it just won’t work as
well. You might end up with something double the size, and price. Now, if you’re the type that thinks everything in life is
fair and equal, and for some applications it is, then it simply comes down to a matter of taste (like, Molson or Labatt).
Remember to take into consideration some of your other requirements too (space constraints, budget, availability,
materials of construction, etc.).
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Hope I answered your questions. What? Still confused...at a loss? No problem. Send me a quick e-mail, and I’ll try to get
back to you on it. Remember to include your name and a contact number where you can be reached.
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