ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
(OP)
We are procuring a surface condenser.The heat transfer area of the condenser is around 3500 m2.and one of our requirement mentioned in the RFQ is that the condenser should be U-Stamped. Some of the vendors have replied that since condensers are designed for negative pressure (Full Vacuum),and the design code is HEI not ASME, therefore U-Stamp cannot be applied to it. Can anyone advise whether this is a justified reason?





RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
HEI designs on the other hand do not consider positive pressure, only negative. Therefore square foot for square foot of heat transfer surface area, your ASME condenser will heavier and thus more expensive.
How much is a ASME nameplate with a stamp on it worth to you when an HEI design will give you a fine condenser?
rmw
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
Years ago I designed low pressure vacuum equipment using all ASME design techniques but not stamped. The metal thicknesses were adequate for the service required (normally atmospheric to FV) but not to +15 psig. All other details of the design were right out of Section VIII.
rmw
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
It seems to me that they must have addressed this issue many times in the past.
The fine people at Graham have always helped me in the past
www.graham-mfg.com
Since the tubeside (only) would qualify for and ASME code stamp,(>15 psig design) doesn't that mean that the whole unit requires a stamp ?
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
With a Graham condenser and a sherman tank you could win a war.
rmw
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
And Graham is a backbone member of HEI so it isn't as if they don't know how to do it if they wanted to. Obviously they must have gone that route when they built the rectangular condensers for the CCGT plants.
rmw
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
Some condensers have the possibility of going well positive under certain (usually upset) operating conditions and if so the vessel better be built to do it. But if not, it is wasted effort IMHO.
Some industrial plants have standards for minimum vessel design and every vessel in the plant is designed accordingly so this may not be the only gold plated vessel in the plant.
rmw
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
Regards,
Mike
RE: ASME U-Stamp for Surface condenser designed on FV
Ever since I started reading this thread, I've been playing all the HEI condensers I ever touched back through my mind to see if I could remember even one that was code stamped on the tube side. Round ones, yes. And plenty of those in refineries, chemical plants, etc. Graham's, every (round) one I ever saw, but none of their rectangulars.
Another thought that has occurred to me re; this thread is that HEI is pretty much the standard in the power utility world while the industrial world worships ASME. The larger condensers in the power world are large enough to serve as livestock barns or small airplane hangars in another life while the condensers in the industrial world are generally quite smaller and mostly round.
Therefore it isn't beyond the stretch of reason that someone in an industrial environment would default to the more familiar ASME code as a standard while utility guys would never even consider it - for their condensers, that is.... Boilers and FWH's on the other hand...
rmw