High-Pressure Feedwater Heater

(Above) Torquebolts® are first seated into the flange. External hex facilitates installation.

Problem: This plant has four of these high pressure heaters. The units were only in service about 5-6 years when they were first disassembled. They experienced substantial problems with thread galling upon removal and spent nearly a week drilling out the seized bolts.

Solution: Superbolt® Torquebolts® were designed with an external hex for easy installation and removal. The installation torque was only 118 ft-lbs per jackbolt to achieve an equivalent hex bolt torque of 12,000 ft-lbs. The Torquebolts® eliminate galling of the main thread since the main thread does not slide while loaded. Installation time was cut dramatically to about 2 hours with two workers.

 

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  Tensioning is done with a small air impact and calibrated torque wrench.

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  Old bolt and new Torquebolt. 3 1/4” - 8 tpi thread.