Exchangers height

I do not know what the system pressure is, or if it is liquid - liquid, or liquid - gas(air)

so I can only speak generally.

One would locate a heat exchanger above the floor to give room for repair and maintenance on it and other equipment, to provide a high point for any residual gas exhaust and to create a more compact installation. It may also be a large spource of heat into the room, so you want it high up so convective venting will work with no power needed?

Many Heat Exchangers operate under vacuum. Therefore, to drain the condensate the exchanger is elevated so it can drain through a barometric drain leg/pipe without having to pump it out.

We are assuming you are meaning Shell and Tube Exchangers. There are many other types and the each have their own unique requirements.

Shell & Tube

When considering the height of a Shell & Tube Exchanger there are at least three areas (or issues) you should consider. These are: a) process functionality, b) piping connections and c) maintenance.

a. Process Functionality (what happens inside the exchanger) - You must know what is going on in the exchanger. Most S&T exchangers are just heater/coolers where the commodities on one side heats or cools the commodity on the other side. These are very simple. Both sides are under pressure and are not a slave to gravity. However there are some S&T exchangers that are used as "Condensers" where the commodity coming in the top is in a vapor/gas phase and the commodity leaving at the bottom is in a fluid/liquid phase. With these you must support them at a level so the fluid will free drain to the next vessel (accumulator).

b. Piping Connections (what happens outside the exchanger) - Exchangers must be supported at an elevation which allows the piping (to and from the bottom nozzles) the required room for flanges, elbows, pipe, drain connections, insulation and proper clearance.

c. Maintenance (what happens to the exchanger) - S&T Exchangers may have "Fixed Tubes" or "Removable Tube Bundles". Borh of these types have clearance requirements. For the "Removable Tube Bundle" there are specially designed bundle removal machines that have height (maximum and minimum) restrictions. You need to know how maintenance will be accomplished and make the proper accomidations.

Hi,

The advice given so far is quite appropriate, without some knowledge of the thermal capacity of the unit it is not possible to extend the dialogue much further because the physical size of the unit dectates much of the detail relating to the installation. All S&T units reguire an equivalent length for the withdrawal of the tube bundle which can be heavy and needs supporting to avoid damage if it is an extended surface type. Plate Heat Exchangers on the other hand are compact but still need space to open out and remove the individual plates for servicing or regasketting unless of the welded/brazed construction. Remember also that in some circumstances there will be the need to provide not only a safety valve with discharge to atmosphere but also a bursting disc with anoother large capacity discharge to a safe place. These matters will all play a part in your final layout and positioning.

You really need to consider the whole process not just the thermal issues when deciding how and where to site this plant item.

Were the heat exchanger part of the light-end component condenser equipment at the top of a fractionating column, for example, there would be nowhere better to put it, since gravity is used to direct the condensed liquids down through the column.