Heat Exchanger Tube Plugs

The plug system is fully certified by the manufacturer in accordance with the Pressure Equipment Directive (PED) and meets all relevant safety requirements. This regulation defines the requirements for pressure equipment and its placing on the market within the European Economic Area (Directive 2014/68/EU on pressure equipment).

• Creating a safe, reliable and durable seal
• Maintaining the integrity of surrounding tubes
• Installation with controlled force
• Reliable maintenance even under the most extreme operating conditions
• Metric sizing
• Plugs have undergone precise testing against blow-out, leakage, deformation and breakage

No hammering of the plugs – this introduces vibrations into the heat exchanger, which can affect other tubes.

No welding of the plugs – this creates thermal stresses that may lead to cracking of other tubes.

No need for own stock inventory – deliveries are made at short notice, avoiding tied-up capital.

Time savings and reduced workload – no urgent in-house production required on weekends or public holidays.

Only 2 product series – for different pressure ratings. Up to 400 bar.

The Plug consists of a tapered pull rod, a sealing ring with lamella-type sealing elements and a threaded pull pin with predetermined breaking point. The Plug is screwed onto the end of the corresponding pull rod. This pulling unit is then inserted into the hydraulic installation tool and the complete assembly is inserted into the open end of the damaged tube.

During installation, the tapered pull rod is pulled through the sealing ring, causing the ring to expand outward until it contacts the inner diameter (ID) of the tube. The tube and the tube sheet bore restrict further expansion and generate an increased tensile force on the pull rod. Once the correct installation force has been reached, the pull pin breaks and the installed Plug is firmly seated in the tube.

Select a material for the tube plug that is as similar as possible to the material of the tube and/or tube sheet in order to minimize the effects of thermal expansion and galvanic corrosion.

The following materials are available as standard:

‘A’ for 16Mo3

‘B’ for Brass

‘C’ for Carbon Steel

‘D’ for Duplex

‘E’ for Stainless Steel 304L

‘M’ for Monel

‘S’ for Stainless Steel 316L

‘ST’ for Stainless Steel 321

‘SV’ for Stainless Steel 904L

‘T’ for Titanium

Other materials available on request

Together with you, we are happy to prepare a basic framework for your plant shutdown, which we keep available for you in our mobile warehouse free of charge. At the end, you only pay for the plugs removed (each started package) and the personnel. Larger quantities of a specific plug type or size are available at very short notice.