Heat exchanger retubing with thicker tube

[Guibar]

Hi everyone.

We are going to retube a Heat exchanger with a thicker tube (2,7 mm - BWG 14) than original (2,11 mm - BWG 12).

The difference in weight is something around 1 ton.
The exchanger weighs 11 ton, and is gonna weigh 12 ton.

The exchanger is a floating head bundle.
My question, apart from the exchange efficiency, that we checked and is ok, what do we need to consider speaking of mechanical integrity

Thanks

 

[MJCronin]

A new, thicker tube puts your tube to tubesheet joint into question.

Will the new tubes be rolled/and/or welded into the existing tubesheet ?

Does the contractor have experience with the new rolling proceedure ?

Will there be samples made up for a pull-out test on some sample tubes ??

If the existing heat exchanger is a TEMA BEM and does not have a shell expansion joint, will there be a re-evaluation of the new, larger axial forces developed within the unit ?

Have the thermal condition also changed so as to make the axial thermal issue an even greater one ?

 

[Guibar]

Will the new tubes be rolled/and/or welded into the existing tubesheet ?
Its gonna be rolled.

Does the contractor have experience with the new rolling proceedure ?
Yes, he had performed several rolled procedures for us.

Will there be samples made up for a pull-out test on some sample tubes ??
Yes, we will.

If the existing heat exchanger is a TEMA BEM and does not have a shell expansion joint, will there be a re-evaluation of the new, larger axial forces developed within the unit ?
It does have a expansion joint!

Have the thermal condition also changed so as to make the axial thermal issue an even greater one ?
No, it wont change.

Thanks for the help!

 

[SnTMan]

Floatng head bundle? Expansion joint? Doesn't jive unless single pass tubeside, internal EJ. However.

I'm going to guess, and it is only a guess, that if tubeside pressure drop is OK, nobody will notice any difference.


Regards,

Mike