Equipment and Piping Layout : Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

Grouping

Exchangers shall be grouped together wherever possible.

Orientation

Heat exchangers should be located perpendicular to the pipe rack on the outer row to facilitate pulling of tube bundles with mobile crane or by other means.

Tube Bundle Pulling

They should have a longitudinal clearance of at least one-meter plus the length of removable bundles in front of the tube bundle removal side. Plant access roads may be utilized for tube bundle pulling areas, so long as alternate access is available to any potentially isolated area. Fire truck routes shall not be used as pulling areas.

Thermo-siphon Reboilers

Thermo-siphon reboilers should preferably be placed close to their associated towers.

Wrench Clearance

Wrench clearance shall be provided between channel nozzles and required valves, with the valves clear of removal areas.

Fixed Saddle Location

If underground cooling water connections are provided to the bonnet, fixed saddle support should be towards cooling water header side. Otherwise decide fixed saddle support location based on piping flexibility.

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Piping

Piping shall be arranged so that they do not hinder removal of shell end and channel cover and withdrawal of tube bundle. Piping, except removable local interconnections, shall not be run over channel or shell cover areas, or in the way of built-in or mobile handling facilities.

Pipe Supports

The supports of piping connected to heat exchangers should not cause difficulties in line dismantling and/or the replacement of the flanged joint gasket. It is preferable to foresee that the first support located near the equipment will be of adjustable type. The position of this adjustable support may change based on operating temperature of the line.

For piping with operating temperature >= 150 Degree C, support connection point is located at the same elevation as lower shell tangent line.