ADVANTAGES

Advantages of the Breech-Lock design include: - The overall exchanger is lighter (thinner channel) and easier to handle - The internal tubesheet-to-shell gasket can be tightened from the outside during operation - No cutting of welded parts (i.e., channel diaphragm weld) is required to open the channel for maintenance - There is no need for hydraulic bolt tensioning devices to remove the channel cover and reassemble the exchanger, thus eliminating the number of tightening cycles and strain gauge measurements
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These advantages allow for easy operation and maintenance of the Breech-Lock closure. These exchangers are easy to operate and comparatively easy to dismantle and reassemble, which results in more reliable operation and shorter shut down time.

EASIER MAINTENANCE + SHORTER SHUT DOWN TIME = HIGHER EFFICIENCY

EASY INSTALLATION SPECIAL DISMANTLING JIG

IMB has developed a unique, proprietary jig assembly designed to facilitate dismantling and reassembling
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operations. With the IMB jig it is possible to open the channel, remove the internals, and then reassemble and reclose of the Breech-Lock exchangers in a very short time without the need for heavy cranage.
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The jigs sophisticated design includes ball bearing supports, fine pitch adjustment screws, and perfectly machined mounting/contact surfaces. All of this, together with its ergonomic design, makes the IMBs jig the best tool of its kind for Breech-Lock exchanger maintenance. The jig is mounted on a machined surface on the channel of the exchanger. This allows autonomous operation with no need for other plant facilities, such as cranes, etc. Once the jig is lifted and positioned on the mounting surface, opening the channel and removing the threaded ring and cover takes approximately 10 minutes. The entire sequence of activities from completion of shut down to full disassembly of the internals, can usually be performed in one to three hours depending on the size of the exchanger. A different version of the IMB jig is also available for use with vertical Breech-Lock exchangers.

TECHNOLOGY
Known worldwide as a leader in the design and fabrication of high pressure heat exchangers, Koch Heat Transfer Company* also offers technology for the most demanding and critical high-pressure applications with the Breech-Lock closure system. Successfully used for more than 35 years, the Breech-Lock system features a special threaded ring to hold the channel cover and contain channel pressure. This unique and innovative technology eliminates the large channel cover flange and bolting of other conventional designs. Our unique design of the Breech-Lock internals offers exceptional maintenance advantages over competitors Breech-Lock closures:
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- Avoid deformation of the internal bolts, - Avoid overstressing of internal push bolts, - The seal gasket, confined into the diaphragm, follows the relative movement of the diaphragm with respect to the channel due to differential thermal expansion, thus guaranteeing the sealing even during transient conditions.

DESIGN
Breech-Lock Heat exchangers are fabricated and supplied by Koch Heat Transfer, S.r.l. under fabrication License from ABB Lummus Heat Transfer and the Breech-Lock is a trademark of ABB LHT. Formerly adopted by IMB , the hydrostatic pressure load is taken by the channel body and not by heavy bolting (bolts are only sized for gasket compression loading). This allows a relatively thin design of the channel (no edge bending due to bolting) with consequent reduction in the exchangers size and weight.
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APPLICATIONS & RELIABILITY

Koch Heat Transfer Company S.r.l, formerly IMB , has manufactured high-pressure Breech-Lock heat exchangers for many major oil companies. Most of these IMB Breech-Lock exchangers have been in successful operation for many years, and include the largest Breech-Lock exchangers ever built. Breech-Lock closure is suitable for high-temperature, high-pressure installations for hydrocracking, gas compression, ammonia synthesis and many other applications. Koch Heat Transfer has supplied IMB Breech-Lock exchangers for critical services with pressure and temperature. There are more than 1,000 Breech-Lock exchangers installed worldwide and more than half have been built by Koch Heat Transfer.
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Koch Heat Transfer Company is the result of a strategic combination between a very strong engineering staff and a highly skilled manufacturer. Thats the reason why we present ourselves as a solution provider and not simply a manufacturer. We offer a broadrange of products: high pressure shell and tube heat exchangers, including specialties such as Breech Lock heat exchangers, HELI-BAFFLE 1, Rod Baffle exchanger, titanium equipment (mainly for off-shore), TWISTED TUBE 2 technology, Hairpin, double pipe & large multitube exchangers, TAPER LOK ** closure, heat transfer augmentation devices (fin tubes, tube inserts, low pressure drop tube support), tank heaters and aftermarket activity. The primary applications for our products are oil & gas (LNG, GTL), refining (hydrocracking, hydrotreating), chemical & petrochemical industry (styrene, PTA, ammonia, urea). Having manufactured more than 5,000 units for oil, petrochemical and chemical industries in all types of materials, we successfully operate worldwide in the most demanding services and critical applications.

Vertical Breech-Lock exchangers for Hydrocracker Unit by courtesy of SHELL PERNIS