Thermal shock to copper pipe
Thermal shock to copper pipe
(OP)
I have recently been involved in a project where a shell and tube heat exchange became damaged.
Three of the copper tubes that carry water through the shell developed pin holes while the shell was being charged with refrigerant( potentially -40C but unlikely to be this low). The manufacturer suggests this damage was caused by the thermal shock of refrigerant charging. Although a specialist pipe freezer who uses nitrogen to freeze pipe to -196C and several other people with more knowledge than me, say that if this was the case the damage would not be pin holes but obviouly bulging and blistered pipe with cracks.
Anyone have any experience ?
Three of the copper tubes that carry water through the shell developed pin holes while the shell was being charged with refrigerant( potentially -40C but unlikely to be this low). The manufacturer suggests this damage was caused by the thermal shock of refrigerant charging. Although a specialist pipe freezer who uses nitrogen to freeze pipe to -196C and several other people with more knowledge than me, say that if this was the case the damage would not be pin holes but obviouly bulging and blistered pipe with cracks.
Anyone have any experience ?





RE: Thermal shock to copper pipe
I am not a copper specialist .
RE: Thermal shock to copper pipe
How were the tubes leak tested before the HX was built? How was the HX tested prior to charging? I have seen large industrial refigeration heat exchangers Helium leak tested prior to service.
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