Issues regarding the selection of hydrotest pressure for heat exchangers
Thread Content
For heat exchangers where the design pressure of the tube side is higher than that of the shell side, the hydrostatic test is carried out by increasing the test pressure; in such cases, GB151 and 150 only state that the test pressure should be increased appropriately. How should one choose the “appropriate” test pressure?
Increase it to the same as the pipe-side test pressure.
To raise it to the same level as the test pressure on the tube side, it is also necessary to conduct a strength check of the pressure-bearing components on the shell side at this test pressure
The hydrostatic test pressure for the shell side is increased to the test pressure for the tube side, while simultaneously verifying that the stress in the shell side cylinder meets the standard requirements. To improve it, for pipe end pressure testing, if improvement is not necessary, an ammonia leak detection test can also be carried out on the pipe ends.
Check out more posts; there are plenty related to it. I’ve answered it a few times already!
This depends on whether the increase in the thickness of the shell side after raising its pressure to match that of the tube side is acceptable; if it is not acceptable overall, then the ammonia leakage detection method should be employed.