Heat  Exchanger Piping

Shell & Tub

After all the required information has been collected for the piping design  of a heat exchanger,  the first step is to outline clearance and working space in front and around both ends of the exchanger. These working spaces should be kept clear of any piping and accessories to facilitate channel, shell-cover and tube-bundle removal as well as maintenance and    cleaning.

The free space at the side of horizontal shell can be used for placement of control stations.

The piping is elevated from grade to have a clearance of 300mm above the grade level. The pipingconnected to channel head nozzles  should  be furnished  with break flanges  to facilitate  theremoval  of the channel head.

Steam lines connecting to a header in the yard

can be arranged on either side of the exchanger centerline without increasing the

pipe   length.

Cooling-water lines, if under ground, should run right under the lined-up

channel  nozzles  of  all  coolers.

Access to valve hand wheels and instruments will influence the piping arrangement around heat exchangers. Valve handwheels should be accessible from grade and from a convenient accessway. These accessways should be used for arranging manifolds, control valves and instruments.

Plate & Spiral  Exchangers

Piping at spiral and plate exchangers is also arranged to allow opening of covers and removal of   plates.

Controls at the spiral exchanger are located on the ends of the unit, clear of the cover plate swing   area, piping attachment to cover plate nozzles of spiral exchanger will have break flanges.

Controls for plate exchanger are located at the front and one side of the exchanger. The piping is elevated to have clearance from grade as well as convenience for operation of valves.

AIR COOLERS

Piping for air coolers are not routed over tube banks or fans and should be kept clear  of  the designated space for motor  maintenance.

Following Figure Show Location And Piping Arrangement.