How to replace the tube bundle of a shell and tube heat exchanger
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The heat exchanger tube bundle has too many leaks and is therefore unusable; repairs require the replacement of the tube bundle. How should a shell-and-tube heat exchanger’s tube bundle be replaced? Without removing the shell from the equipment frame, what are the safe and quick methods for removing the old tube bundle and installing a new one? It would be ideal to have diagrams or actual images to illustrate this process. The tube bundle has a diameter of about 400 and a length of 3 meters. I’m extremely grateful for the master’s help!
With a diameter of 400 and a length of 3 meters, it appears to be a quite small heat exchanger. If the heat exchanger is on a platform very high above the ground, a crane must be used in conjunction with a core extractor to carry out the work. If on the ground and without specialized core-pulling equipment, a hand chain hoist can be used to push out one section of the tube bundle, after which a forklift can be used to pull it out. When reinstalling the new tube bundle, a crane is used to lift the bundle, and a forklift is used to push it in by supporting the tube sheet.
The heat exchanger isn’t large enough; replace it entirely. :)
Thank you for the advice. It’s on the platform, and the corrosion is so severe that it’s difficult to remove it
Is this heat exchanger equipped with a fixed plate or a packing seal? Only if it has a packing seal is it possible to remove the core; take a close look at the equipment diagrams. Moreover, the heat exchanger itself isn’t very large, so there isn’t much difference between removing the core and replacing the entire unit
The key is to determine whether it is a fixed tube sheet or a floating head It’s not easy to fix a fixed tube sheet; it’s best to have a professional manufacturer go to the factory to carry out the repairs!
This project is located abroad, and it’s very inconvenient to replace parts there; the issue has been resolved. Thank you
This project is located abroad, and it’s very inconvenient to replace parts there; the issue has been resolved. Thank you
Unable to return to the factory, had to fix it myself; issue resolved. Thank you
If it’s about replacing a few pipes, use a drill to remove the welds at both ends of the pipes, and then the pipes can be pulled out； If it’s a batch replacement of pipes, it’s better to send them back to the factory.