Air Cooler Tube to Tube Sheet Seal Welding

[MachEng]

In the API 661 / ISO 13706 section 9.3.4 Welded Tube to Tube Sheet Joints, it states that the purchaser shall specifiy whether the tube to tube sheet joints are to be strengthened or - seal welded.

A particular manufacturer has stated that anything over 2000 Psig is seal welded. Are there any standards that cover this which would provide guidelines or criteria for the design to incorporate seal welding of air cooled heat exchangers to increase the reliabiity of the tube interface with the tube sheet?

I would appriciate anyone's comments on the subject including policies from other organisations that determine when you incorporate the seal welded tubes.

DANIEL C. SMAISTRLA
judasmai@optusnet.com.au

Equipment: Centrifugal Pumps and compressors; Steam and Gas Turbines; Reciprocation Engines and
Compressors

Specialties: Machinery diagnostics, design application of compressors, FEED,Detail Design,construction,commissioning and maintenance.

 

[bam8888]

Yes, refer to ASME Section VIII, Div. 1, Part UW ("UW-20 Tube-to-Tubesheet Welds", to be exact). You might also look at non-mandatory App. A (also in Sec. VIII).
Hope this helps