High-Efficiency Floating Head Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger for Petrochemical Refining

• Customization: Available
• After-sales Service: Repairable Within The Warranty Period
• Warranty: 2 Years
• Function: Storage Pressure Vessel
• Application: Mixture
• Material: Stainless Steel
• Pressure: 0.1MPa≤p<1.6MPa
• Storage Medium: Moncombustible/Nontoxic
• Pressure Level: Low Pressure (0.1MPa≤p<1.6MPa)
• Condition: New
• Working Medium: Mixture
• Certificate: GB150 ISO ASME GOST
• Inspection: Available
• Capacity: 500sets/Year
• Transport Package: Steel Frame/Saddle/Box
• Specification: 0.28-100m³
• Trademark: TongYang
• Origin: China
• Production Capacity: 500pieces/Year

Product Description

Floating Head Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger: A Versatile Thermal Transfer Solution for Demanding Industrial Applications

The floating head shell and tube heat exchanger is a sophisticated variant of shell and tube heat exchangers, playing a pivotal role in industrial thermal management across sectors such as petrochemicals, coal chemicals, power generation, and pharmaceuticals. Engineered to address challenges like thermal expansion, fouling, and maintenance accessibility, this equipment enables efficient heat transfer between two or more process fluids while ensuring long-term operational reliability.
Structural Design & Innovation
At its core, the design features a floating head assembly-one end of the tube bundle is fixed to the shell via a stationary tube sheet, while the opposite end (floating head) is free to move within the shell. This unique configuration allows for full compensation of thermal expansion differences between the tubes and the shell, eliminating thermal stress and extending equipment lifespan. Additionally, the floating head can be easily disassembled, enabling straightforward tube bundle removal for cleaning, inspection, and maintenance-an essential advantage for processes involving fouling-prone or viscous media.
The heat transfer surface consists of a tube bundle (available in various layouts, including triangular, square, or rotated square pitch) enclosed within a cylindrical shell. Tubes are typically constructed from materials like carbon steel (ASTM A106/A516), stainless steel (304, 316L), duplex steel, or high-alloy materials (Hastelloy, Inconel) to withstand corrosive, high-temperature, or high-pressure environments. The shell is designed as a pressure vessel, adhering to stringent structural and safety standards.

Technical Parameters

Parameter	Typical Range
Design Pressure	Vacuum - 25 MPa
Design Temperature	-100ºC - 600ºC
Heat Transfer Area	5 m² - 3000 m² (customizable)
Fluid Handling Capacity	1 m³/h - 8000 m³/h
Pressure Drop (Max)	≤ 0.3 MPa (tube side / shell side)
Thermal Efficiency	≥ 88% (under design conditions)

Application & Performance Advantages
Industry Versatility: Ideal for processes with significant thermal expansion (e.g., crude oil heating in refineries, syngas cooling in coal-to-chemical plants) and applications involving fouling media (e.g., polymer melts, slurry streams). It also serves critical roles in power plant condenser systems and pharmaceutical batch reactors.
Thermal Expansion Compensation: The floating head design eliminates thermal stress, making it suitable for extreme temperature differentials (ΔT > 150ºC), a key advantage over fixed-tube-sheet alternatives.
Maintenance Efficiency: Quick access to the tube bundle reduces downtime for cleaning and repair, lowering operational costs and improving process uptime.
Material Flexibility: Customizable tube and shell materials ensure compatibility with corrosive fluids (e.g., acids, alkalis) and high-purity requirements (e.g., in pharmaceutical or food-grade applications).
Regulatory Compliance: Meets international standards such as ASME BPVC, GB/T 151, and EN 13445, ensuring safety, quality, and interoperability in global projects.
In conclusion, the floating head shell and tube heat exchanger stands as a cornerstone of industrial heat transfer, delivering unmatched adaptability to thermal expansion, ease of maintenance, and robust performance across diverse and demanding applications. Its engineered design and material versatility make it an indispensable solution for industries seeking reliable, efficient, and long-lasting thermal management capabilities.
 

 

 

 CERTIFICATE

FAQ
1. Q: Are you a manufacturer or trading company? 
    A: We are a manufacturer with over thirty years experience in China.
2. Q: What's the information needed if I send one inquiry?  
     A : Please tell us the working conditions, mediums, temperature, pressure, equipment's material, size, quantity, and other             special requests. 
3. Q: How does your factory do quality control?
     A: Quality is priority, we make relevant strict testing before delivery.
4. Q: Which countries you can ship the equipment to?
     A : Russia, Iraq, New Zealand, etc...