How to calculate heat exchanger's tube wall thickness ?

miftahazhar · Mar 10, 2019

Tube in heat exchanger is under internal pressure and external pressure. Fluid in the tube is water. How to calculate the minimum wall thickness ?

What formula must I use ? I confuse is ASME 8 Division 1 which I have use or the boiler formula ? or maybe using asme B31 ?

And how to use that formula? I mean do I must calculate under internal pressure and external pressure and take the greater value like when calculate Pressure Vessel under external pressure ?

MJCronin · Mar 10, 2019

http://www.thermopedia.com/content/1182/

MJCronin
Sr. Process Engineer

EdStainless · Mar 10, 2019

Typically HX design follows the rules from HEI, TEMA, or some other appropriate organization.
You select a material, and the strength at your design temp will establish the min wall.
If you are dealing with steel or a Cu alloy there will also be the issue of a corrosion allowance.

I son't know your pressures but most companies have minimum wall thickness that they will use.
In stainless steel it isn't uncommon for the calculated wall to be very thin, thinner than people want to use.

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
P.E. Metallurgy, Plymouth Tube

Tek-Tips is the largest IT community on the Internet today!

Members share and learn making Tek-Tips Forums the best source of peer-reviewed technical information on the Internet!

How to calculate heat exchanger's tube wall thickness ?

miftahazhar

Mechanical

MJCronin

Mechanical

EdStainless

Materials

Similar threads

Part and Inventory Search

Sponsor