2010 SECTION VIII, DIVISION 2
4-357
4.18.8 Rules for the Design of Fixed Tubesheets
4.18.8.1 Scope
These rules cover the design of tubesheets for fixed tubesheet heat exchangers. The tubesheets may have
one of the four configurations shown in Figure 4.18.5.
a) Configuration a – tubesheet integral with shell and channel.
b) Configuration b – tubesheet integral with shell and gasketed with channel, extended as a flange.
c) Configuration c – tubesheet integral with shell and gasketed with channel, not extended as a flange.
d) Configuration d – tubesheet gasketed with shell and channel, extended or not extended as a flange.
4.18.8.2 Conditions of Applicability
The two tubesheets shall have the same thickness, material and edge conditions.
4.18.8.3 Design Considerations
a) It is generally not possible to determine, by observation, the most severe condition of coincident
pressure, temperature and differential thermal expansion. Thus, it is necessary to evaluate all the
anticipated loading conditions to ensure that the worst load combination has been considered in the
design. The various loading conditions to be considered shall include the normal operating conditions,
the startup conditions, the shutdown conditions, and the upset conditions, which may govern the design
of the main components of the heat exchanger (i.e., tubesheets, tubes, shell, channel, tube-to-
tubesheet joint).
1) For each of these conditions, the following loading cases shall be considered to determine the
effective pressure
e
P to be used in the design equations:
i) Loading Case 1 – Tube side pressure
t
P acting only
)
0
s
P
without differential thermal
expansion.
ii) Loading Case 2 – Shell side pressure
P acting only
)
0
t
P
without differential thermal
expansion.
iii) Loading Case 3 – Tube side pressure
t
P and shell side pressure
P acting simultaneously,
without differential thermal expansion.
iv) Loading Case 4 – Differential thermal expansion acting only
)
0
s
P = and
()
0
t
P
.
v) Loading Case 5 – Tube side pressure
t
P acting only
)
0
s
P
with differential thermal
expansion.
vi) Loading Case 6 – Shell side pressure
P acting only
)
0
t
P
with differential thermal
expansion.
vii) Loading Case 7 – Tube side pressure
t
P and shell side pressure
P acting simultaneously,
with differential thermal expansion.
2) When vacuum exists, each loading case shall be considered with and without the vacuum.
3) When differential design pressure is specified by the user, the design shall be based only on
Loading Cases 3, 4, and 7. If the tube side is the higher-pressure side,
t
P shall be the tube side