Removing Heat Exchanger tube bundles

[ND17]

Hi

I want to remove the ube bundles from my heat exchanger and continue using the shell as a pipe. The plan is to remove the channel head and then bolt the channel cover in its place. What are some of the consideration i should think of. I have already looked at tube side vs shell side design pressure and temperature and I have looked at the reduction in pressure drop across the exchanger if i remove the tubes. Are there any other considerations?

 

[georgeverghese]

Functionally, you may call this a pipe, but your Engg Dept may tell you it is still a coded pressure vessel, not a pipe.

 

[mk3223]

Agree that as a pressure vessel, the overpressure protection and Code inspection are still required. Also, the shell body may have some flow "dead" spots which may be a potential problem for operation.

 

[bimr]

Seems like it would be less expensive to remove the heat exchanger and replace it or bypass it with a pipe than to remove the het exchanger tubes and clean out the heat exchanger.

 

[georgeverghese]

If there is a PSV on the shellside, you would still have to keep this PSV, if firecase relief is applicable, since the shellside is still a pressure vessel.