ADVANTAGES

Advantages of the Breech-LockTM 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

These advantages allow for easy operation and maintenance of the Breech-Lock closure. Theseexchangers are easy to operate and comparatively easy to dismantle and reassemble, which results inmore reliable operation and shorter shut down time.

EASIER MAINTENANCE+ SHORTER SHUT DOWN TIME= HIGHER EFFICIENCY

EASY INSTALLATIONSPECIAL DISMANTLING JIG

IMBTM has developed a unique, proprietary jig assembly designed to facilitate dismantling and reassemblingoperations. With the IMB jig it is possible to open the channel, remove the internals, and then reassembleand reclose of the Breech-LockTM exchangers in a very short time without the need for heavy cranage.

The jig’s sophisticated design includes ball bearing supports, fine pitch adjustment screws, and perfectlymachined mounting/contact surfaces. All of this, together with its ergonomic design, makes the IMB’s jigthe best tool of its kind for Breech-Lock exchanger maintenance.

The jig is mounted on a machined surface on thechannel of the exchanger. This allowsautonomous operation with no need for otherplant facilities, such as cranes, etc. Once the jig islifted and positioned on the mounting surface,opening the channel and removing the threadedring and cover takes approximately 10 minutes.The entire sequence of activities from completionof shut down to full disassembly of the internals,can usually be performed in one to three hoursdepending on the size of the exchanger.

A different version of the IMB jig is also availablefor use with vertical Breech-Lock exchangers.

TECHNOLOGYKnown worldwide as a leader in the design and fabricationof high pressure heat exchangers, Koch Heat TransferCompany* also offers technology for the most demandingand critical high-pressure applications with theBreech-LockTM closure system. Successfully used formore than 35 years, the Breech-Lock system features aspecial threaded ring to hold the channel cover andcontain channel pressure. This unique and innovativetechnology eliminates the large channel cover flangeand bolting of other conventional designs.Our unique design of the Breech-Lock internals offers exceptional maintenance advantages over competitor’sBreech-Lock closures:

- 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.

DESIGNBreech-Lock Heat exchangers are fabricated and supplied by Koch Heat Transfer, S.r.l. under fabricationLicense from ABB Lummus Heat Transfer and the Breech-Lock is a trademark of ABB LHT.

Formerly adopted by IMBTM, the hydrostaticpressure load is taken by the channel body and notby heavy bolting (bolts are only sized for gasketcompression loading). This allows a relativelythin design of the channel (no edge bending dueto bolting) with consequent reduction in theexchanger’s size and weight.

APPLICATIONS & RELIABILITYKoch Heat Transfer Company S.r.l, formerly IMBTM, has manufactured high-pressure Breech-LockTM

heat exchangers for many major oil companies. Most of these IMB Breech-Lock exchangers havebeen 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, gascompression, ammonia synthesis and many other applications. Koch Heat Transfer has supplied IMBBreech-Lock exchangers for critical services with pressure and temperature. There are more than1,000 Breech-Lock exchangers installed worldwide and more than half have been built by Koch HeatTransfer.

Koch Heat Transfer Company is the result of a strategic combination between a very strong engineeringstaff and a highly skilled manufacturer. That’s the reason why we present ourselves as a “solutionprovider” and not simply a manufacturer. We offer a broadrange of products: high pressure shell andtube 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 augmentationdevices (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 manufacturedmore than 5,000 units for oil, petrochemical and chemical industries in all types of materials, wesuccessfully operate worldwide in the most demanding services and critical applications.

Vertical Breech-Lock exchangers for HydrocrackerUnit by courtesy of SHELL PERNIS