WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFE ONE CAN EXPECT FROM A SMITHCO FIN FAN® COOLER?
Engineering Consultants who specify these units often ask what will be the life of an air-cooled heat exchanger running in the particular operating environment. This is a very good question. Smithco-Eng have had units running for longer then 40 years with regular maintenance such as lubrication, monitoring and adjustment of the drive tension and keeping the unit from imbalance forces. The tube bundle selection is often the key determinant. This is the eroding or corroding component that will most impact life. When we select an air cooled heat exchanger for our clients we examine the specifications and working with you we balance a number of issues to deliver a custom tailored product. For instance thinner tube walls convey heat better. This improves thermal efficiency. It also means there is less material available to prevent against corrosion. Higher alloy materials prevent against corrosion but increase first cost as well as can impact heat transfer efficiency. Some of our customers
