Sliding bars for u-tube bundles 1

[goodisonman]

Does anyone have any guidance as to when these become necessary? Weight of bundle will obviously be a factor, as will number of baffles as it is the friction between baffle and shell which sliding bars are counteracting. Kettle exchangers are a problem as the shell profile changes such that bars not on bottom centre will not remain in contact with each shell/cone section. I have a bundle 1 tonne in a kettle shell.

 

[Christine74]

TEMA does not establish guidelines for providing skid bars, but API Standard 660 states that a continuous sliding surface shall be provided for all removable tube bundles weighing more than 20,000 lbs. It's quite rare to see a skid bar installed on a 2,000 lb. bundle.

On larger kettle reboilers, the skid "bars" (often actually pipe) are typically welded to the shell I.D.

-Christine