Heat Exchanger tube WT design

[James01]

The company I work for has had a refridgeration skid designed & buit by a vendor. The condenser design seems a bit unusual to me. The tubes are designed to 15barg pressure and the shell side is designed to 30barg. The wall thickness of the tubes appears to be within the stress limits. But the operating pressure of the shell side is at the design pressure of the tube side.

I have two questions regarding the above, firstly has anyone come across this type of design, we have two other oil coolers & one other condenser all of the same design.

Secondly for the tube WT analysis I used the Lame equations does anyone have a formula that I could use for the tubes?

Thanks
Jim

 

[deanc]

Not uncommon,your tubes may be qualified ASME SecVIII Appendix 23. Take a look at your U-1.

Also look at your refrigerant pressure at temperature.

 

[SnTMan]

James01, not sure what configuration your condensor is, but it is not unusual to have a (hopefully positive) margin between design and operating pressures.

Secondly, I would use the equations provided by the code of construction, if any.

Regards,

Mike