API STANDARD 661

[mafla jones]

Hi All,
I was looking thru the API standard 661 for Air-cooled Heat Exchangers regarding partition plates and I cannot seem to find a wipe hole. Should there be a wipe hole on the partition plates for the fin fan coolers. Please see attached wipe hole on the partition plate.

 

[Trestala]

I would assume you mean weep holes or trou holes. They are provided for (horizontal) pass partition plates as drain after hydrotest or, from what I've read here also, to prevent large differential pressures.

Regards,
RaymondN

 

[mafla jones]

Thanks Raymond for the correction ( weep hole). My concern is we have been experience tube leaks on our Fin fan cooler especially LPG Stabilizer Condenser three pass so our Management decided to plug the outlet tubes as per the attached drawing. My Question is will product leak thru the weep hole and build-up pressure on the other side were the partition is considering it also has a weep hole.

Please see attached drawing

Regards,
Edward Aisa

 

[Dhurjati Sen]

Dear mafla jones,

Is it not the right time to replace / completely retube the air cooler?

You are not plugging more than 20 percent of the total tubes, are you?

When you are cutting off a partition, why bother about the weep hole? Seal it off with welding or belzona.

Regards.

DHURJATI SEN

 

[mafla jones]

Raymond, The only problem we now have is we did not seal weld or apply belzona on the weep hole especially on the other side or the left side partition plate as per the attached drawing and the fin fan cooler was given over to operation for start-up.

Regards,
Maflajones

 

[r6155]

This hole is for vent air during hydrostatic test.

Regards
r6155

 

[mafla jones]

Raymond, I don't think its a vent hole especially a weep hole inside the Air cooler partition plate because the vent we have on the Finfan cooler is 1/2 pipe located on the header.

Regards,
Mafla jones

 

[Trestala]

There is a portion between the top of the pass partition plate and bottom row of tubes that liquid would be stagnant. You need to keep those holes for that portion to drain especially after hydrotest. It wouldn't have much effect on the performance of the air fin cooler. That is also being done for shell-and-tube heat exchanger pass partition plates.

Regards,
RaymondN

 

[mafla jones]

Thanks Raymond well noted.

 

[r6155]

Please see ASME VIII Div 1 UG-99 (i) Vents shall be provided at all high points of the vessel
in the position in which it is to be tested to purge possible air pockets while the vessel is filling.

Regards
r6155