heat exchanger location 3

[0123654789]

for a heat exchanger with tube bundle wight below 10 tonnes,
do we have to locate it on the edge of unit, channel side facing access road to allow extractor to pull out the tube bundle?

or we put a light heat exchanger not on the edge of unit, but the sides road are accessible for cranes to move the tube bundle out. Does it work?

I appreciate heat exchanger expertise's answer.

 

[pennpiper]

The answer to your question is more complex than a simple Yes or No.

First, there are different kinds of Heat Exchangers. Even the Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers.

There are the "Removable" Tube Bundle exchangers where the bundle can be taken to the maintenance shop to be cleaned.
Then there are the "Fixed" Tube Bundle exchangers where you muse clean the tubes in place.
To clean tubes in place (weather fixed tubes or removable tube bundle) a small wire brush (1 or more) is forced through the tube by high pressure water jet. This is very much like a miniature "Pig" that is pushed through a pipe line.

For "Removable Bundles" there are special "Bundle Pullers" that fit up against the Shell flange and then is attached to the Bundle. Then the Bundle is extracted hydraulically. The bundle puller must be lifted by a crane or by a heavy duty fork lift.

Access must be provided to all areas of the plant and must be consistent with the needs of the type of maintenance to be done and the type of maintenance equipment required.

 

[0123654789]

Thanks pennpiper very much for your reply! I knew you are a top experienced piper.

have you seen a shell and tube heat exchanger with removable tube bundle, its channel side is not accesible for a mobile?

 

[pennpiper]

Yes!
Multiple S&T exchangers in a multi-level structure with built is "Mono-Rail" beams out front to pull and drop the bundles.

 

[racookpe1978]

Look also for room to "park, backup and aim" the truck and trailer rig below (and in front of) the removable coolers.

Too often the coolers are planned, sometimes the crane and rigging access are equaly well-planned, but the access to the coolers after they are pulled out is left to the imagination of the repair crews.

This gives excess times and delays to the maintenance period. More crane and rigging time.

 

[rmw]

S&T Hx's with fixed channels and tubesheets (and usually a skirt) with "pullable" shells are common in power plants, both in horizontal and vertical (channel down) configurations. Some of these are so heavy that there isn't crane capacity in the building to lift the entire unit or even the bundle itself so pulling the shell is the only option.

The shell must have a track either (1)(and preferably in my opinion) poured into the foundation or able to be constructed to support the weight of the shell (and portion of the bundle still supported by the shell) as it is pulled off. You will typically see these type Hx's with wheels affixed to the shell support leg(s) to be used when the shell is pulled. The bundle, of course must be supported at the (and possibly each) support plate as the shell comes off. Once the retubing or repair is done, the shell is pulled back up on with the appropriate mechanism and rewelded (if welded).

You also have to plan to have some type of substantially built (or buildable) point from which to pull against when the shell comes off. It goes back on with pulleys. It will also require eyes for pulling it back up.

rmw