Heat Exchanger Mounting 2

[RySnow]

Hi guys,

I'm very new to engineering and have browsed this site numerous times, thought I'd sign up and see if I can participate!

I work for a company making oil pumps and am just wondering how a heat exchanger is generally mounted through the oil sump of a bearing housing. The Exchanger has a Ø1/2" tube, I'm not sure what size NPT to use with this.

1/2?

3/4?

Thanks,

-Ry

 

[MikeHalloran]

Uh, mounted _through_ the oil sump? What exactly does that mean? I.e. penetrations below the liquid level can be assumed to leak, eventually, so that would be bad practice.

NPT fittings do not connect to tube, except for specific tube to pipe adapter fittings.

If you are thinking of matching the ID, then 3/4" NPT might be an appropriate size .... but that may not be the best way of sizing the connection, depending on the flowrate.

A good drawing or a photograph of what you are trying to do might help.

Your message suggests that you lack a local mentor in your office. How about the old farts on the shop floor?



Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA

 

[RySnow]

Thanks Mike,

I really just wasn't sure how NPTs were named/sized.

I needed a 1/2" NPT for my Ø1/2" Tube.

THe design has been used many times before, there is some sort of coupling, NPT, bushing arrangement that allows it to work without leaking.

Good idea talking to the old farts lol.

-Ryan

 

[Compositepro]

It's time you start learning about standard tube and pipe sizes, as well as standard nut and bolt sizes. This takes some time and experience to learn and is not taught in school.
A very useful habit to develop is that when you do something new, like select pipe sizes, don't just read enough to get you through your immediate project but take the time to learn some background and perhaps alternatives.

Some good sources of information are the Machinery Handbook and the McMaster-Carr catalog (which is 3000 pages long and available on-line). Remember that every product out there was designed to solve a problem and an engineer's job is to solve problems.

 

[RySnow]

Follow up:

I figured out the answer to my question today:

The 1/2" OD tube that is the heat exchanger passes through a 1" NPT reducer to a 1/2" NPT. The 1/2" NPT is connected to a ferrel (spelling?) or swagelock (compression fitting) which compresses on the tube/heat exchanger to keep it in place. The exposed end of the heat exchanger tube is then put into an application specific fitting to continue on
( ie. NPT/another swage/etc.

Thanks guys.