New Common Design Rules for U-Tube Heat Exchangers in ASME, CODAP and UPV Codes

In year 2000, ASME Code (Section VIII – Div. 1), CODAP (French Code) and UPV (European Code for Unfired Pressure Vessels) have adopted the same rules for the design of U-tube tubesheet heat exchangers. Three different rules are proposed, based on different technical basis, to cover: • Tubesheet gasketed with shell and channel. • Tubesheet integral with shell and channel. • Tubesheet integral with shell and gasketed with channel or the reverse. At the initiative of the author, a more refined technical approach has been developed, to cover all tubesheet configurations. The paper explains the rationale for this new design rule which is being incorporated in ASME, CODAP and UPV in 2002. This is substantiated with comparisons to TEMA Standards and a benchmark of numerical comparisons.