THERMAL ENGINEERING
About Us :
Ancient stuff
I come from a background thoroughly rooted in the insulation industry. My dad was an estimator for Kenyon's in Dukinfield UK , an old established firm of insulation and rope makers, and worked for many companies before becoming MD of Leroy's of Manchester , the oldest lagging contractor in the World with a first class reputation.
I worked here after leaving school , and learned the art of applying what was called 'monkey muck', a form of boiler and pipe insulation applied like plaster , using hand or trowel , and polished with spring steels and teak strips .Leroy's was folded after paying out for asbestosis claims , before anyone thought to take out insurance to cover this tragedy .
I served as a thermal insulation engineer for four years before deciding that i needed something more comfortable , and got a job as estimator , first for Kitson's , then Bestobell , then Cape , and then set up on my own in 1985.I was arguably (Vin Spano might take issue ) the first in the UK to produce tailor-made valve and flange covers for the industry.
Russ Hawkins
Enabling the engineer to do what they do best
K Value was set up in 2009 when I saw a gap in the aerospace market for purpose-made thermal test enclosures . MIL 810G and RTCA Do160 standards created problems for test engineers who were given little option but create their own test environment for
thermal stress testing of actuators , landing gear ,
weapons bay operation and fuselage attachment
points .
Test engineers are busy people , and have spent years training to do the job they are employed to do.
Building a box out of Celotex is a waste of a professional's time and skill , is dusty and hazardous and is a counter-productive use of resources.
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Our enclosures are clean , effective and easy to use .
Made from robust fabrics , user-friendly fasteners and thermal linings , they are purpose-made for the test rig and last for years.
They are wipe-clean , resistant to most acids and alkalis , water , Skydrol and hydraulic fluids ; contain no releasable irritant fibres ; and re-usable any number of times.
Furthermore , we can incorporate slip collars so that live shafts can enter and exit the enclosure , and concertinaed sections to enable expansion of the enclosed space .
They are also flexible enough to allow swing or twist testing .
And as for thermal performance , we have seen a case where an enclosure has been accidentally filled with liquid nitrogen overnight , without ice forming on the outside .
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Russ Hawkins
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We also do . . .
Thermal Insulation
Since 1985 we have produced thermal covers for valves , flanges , bellows , pumps , heat exchangers ,
and other HVAC equipment.
We were one of the first companies in the UK dedicated to this and still provide this service to our customers.
Heat Shielding
Where thermal insulation is not practical or could create overheating , we can produce heatshields : a typical installation would be around an exhaust where airflow is limited.
Fire Protection
We have fabrics and thermal insulation which will withstand 1100 degrees Celsius .
We use intumescent or ablative materials where fire can be a hazard to personnel or
equipment.