TEMA-style shell-and-tube-type exchangers constitute the bulk of the

unfired heat-transfer equipment in chemical-process plants, although

increasing emphasis has been developing in other designs. These
exchangers are illustrated in Fig. 11-35, and their features are sum-
marized in Table 11-11.
TEMA Numbering and Type Designation Recommended
practice for the designation of TEMA-style shell-and-tube heat
exchangers by numbers and letters has been established by the Tubu-
lar Exchanger Manufacturers Association (TEMA). This information
from the sixth edition of the TEMA Standards is reproduced in the
following paragraphs.
It is recommended that heat-exchanger size and type be designated
by numbers and letters.
1. Size. Sizes of shells (and tube bundles) shall be designated by numbers
describing shell (and tube-bundle) diameters and tube lengths as follows:
2. Diameter. The nominal diameter shall be the inside diameter of the
shell in inches, rounded off to the nearest integer. For kettle reboilers the nom-
inal diameter shall be the port diameter followed by the shell diameter, each
rounded off to the nearest integer.

3. Length. The nominal length shall be the tube length in inches. Tube
length for straight tubes shall be taken as the actual overall length. For U tubes
the length shall be taken as the straight length from end of tube to bend tangent.
4. T pe. Type designation shall be by letters describing stationary head,
y
shell (omitted for bundles only), and rear head, in that order, as indicated in Fig.
11-1.
Typical Examples (A) Split-ring floating-heat exchanger with removable
channel and cover, single-pass shell, 591-mm (23 -in) inside diameter with
tubes 4.9 m (16 ft) long. SIZE 23–192 TYPE AES.
(B) U-tube exchanger with bonnet-type stationary head, split-flow shell, 483-
mm (19-in) inside diameter with tubes 21-m (7-ft) straight length. SIZE 19–84
TYPE GBU.
(C) Pull-through floating-heat-kettle-type reboiler having stationary head
integral with tube sheet, 584-mm (23-in) port diameter and 940-mm (37-in)
inside shell diameter with tubes 4.9-m (16-ft) long. SIZE 23/37–192 TYPE CKT.
(D) Fixed-tube sheet exchanger with removable channel and cover, bonnet-
type rear head, two-pass shell, 841-mm (33 -in) diameter with tubes 2.4 m (8-
ft) long. SIZE 33–96 TYPE AFM.
(E) Fixed-tube sheet exchanger having stationary and rear heads integral with
tube sheets, single-pass shell, 432-mm (17-in) inside diameter with tubes 4.9-m
(16-ft) long. SIZE 17–192 TYPE CEN.
Functional Definitions Heat-transfer equipment can be desig-
nated by type (e.g., fixed tube sheet, outside packed head, etc.) or by
TEMA is a set of standards that defines the heat exchanger style and
machining and assembly tolerances to be employed in the manufacture of a
given exchanger. TEMA stands for Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers
Association, the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based association formed by the group of
heat exchanger manufacturers who developed the standards more than 60
years ago. TEMA specifications comprise industry standards that directly
relate to recognized quality practices for manufacturing. Vendors who build
to TEMA standards can be competitively compared because tolerances and
construction methods should be very similar for a given design.

This article defines TEMA constructions and identifies the advantages and
limitations for each type. TEMA designations refer to the front-head, shell
and rear-head designs. For example, a TEMA type BEM has a type B front
head, a type E shell and a type M rear head design. There are special
conditions such as high vapor flows, high pressure and temperature crossing
where a combination of TEMA features is advantageous. For example, K type
shells allow for proper liquid disengagement for reboilers, and J and H type
shells accommodate high vapor flow.

Straight Tube, Fixed Tubesheet. Types in this category include BEM, AEM
and NEN. This TEMA type is the simplest design and is constructed without
packed or gasketed joints on the shell side. The tubesheet is welded to the
shell, and the heads are bolted to the tubesheet. On the NEN heat
exchanger, the shell and head are welded to the tubesheet. Typically, a
cover-plate design is provided to facilitate tube cleaning. This TEMA category
is the lowest cost TEMA design per square foot of heat transfer surface.

This design has several advantages. It provides maximum amount of surface

for a given shell and tube diameter, and it provides for single- and multiple-
tube passes to ensure proper velocity. Heat exchangers of this design may
be interchangeable with other manufacturers of the same TEMA type.

This design also has limitations. Its shell side can be cleaned only by
chemical methods. No provision exists to allow for differential thermal
expansion between the outer shell and tubes, so an expansion joint must be
used.

Removable Bundle, Externally Sealed Floating Tubesheet. Types in

this category include AEW and BEW. This design allows for the removal,
inspection and cleaning of the shell circuit and shell interior. The special
floating tubesheet prevents intermixing of fluids.
This design offers several advantages. The floating tubesheet allows for
differential thermal expansion between the shell and tube bundle. The shell
circuit can be inspected and steam or mechanically cleaned. The tube bundle
can be repaired or replaced without disturbing shell-side piping. For a
removable bundle design, it provides the maximum surface for a given shell
diameter.

This design also has limitations. The fluids in both the shell and tube circuits
must be nonvolatile and nontoxic. Tube-side passes are limited to one- or
two-pass designs. In addition, all tubes are attached to two tubesheets.
Tubes cannot expand independently, so large temperature differential
applications should be avoided. Finally, its packing materials produce limits
on design pressure and temperature.

Removable Bundle, Outside Packed Floating Head. This type includes

BEP and AEP. Its design allows for easy tube bundle removal and inspection
and cleaning of the shell circuit and shell interior. Its special floating
tubesheet prevents fluid intermixing.

Advantages of this type include the removable bundle, externally sealed

floating tubesheet design. This TEMA design's floating tubesheet allows for
differential thermal expansion be-tween the shell and the tube bundle. Its
shell circuit can be inspected and steam cleaned. In addition, if the tube
bundle has a square tube pitch, passing a brush between the rows of tubes
can clean them. The tube bundle can be repaired or replaced without
disturbing shell piping. Only the shell-side fluids are exposed to packing, so
toxic or volatile fluids can be cooled in the tube-side circuit. It provides a
large bundle entrance area, reducing the need for entrance domes for proper
fluid distribution.

This design also has several limitations. Shell-side fluids are limited to
nonvolatile, nontoxic materials. Its packing limits the shell-side design
temperature and pressure. All of the tubes are attached to two tubesheets,
and the tubes cannot expand independently, so that large thermal shock
applications should be avoided. Finally it provides less surface per given shell
and tube diameter than AEW or BEW.
Removable Bundle, Floating Head With Backing Device. This type
includes AES and BES. It is well suited for applications requiring frequent
tube-bundle removal for inspection and cleaning. This heat exchanger type
uses a straight-tube design suitable for large differential temperatures
between the shell and tube fluids. It is more forgiving to thermal shock than
AEW or BEW designs.

The design provides several advantages. Its floating head allows for
differential thermal expansion between the shell and the tube bundle. Its
shell circuit can be inspected and steam cleaned, and if it has a square tube
layout, tubes can be mechanically cleaned. It provides higher surface per
given shell and tube diameter than pull-through designs such as AET and
BET. Also, it provides a multipass tube circuit arrangement.

One limitation is that the shell cover, backing device and floating head cover
must be removed to remove the tube bundle.

Removable Bundle, Pull-Through Floating Head. Types in this category

include AET and BET, which are suitable for applications that require
frequent tube bundle removal for inspection and cleaning as the floating
head is bolted directly to the floating tubesheet. This prevents having to
remove the floating head to pull the tube bundle.

This design has several advantages. A floating head design allows for
differential thermal expansion between the shell and the tube bundle. The
shell circuit can be inspected and steam or mechanically cleaned. There is a
large bundle entrance area for proper fluid distribution and a multipass tube
circuit arrangement.

For a given set of conditions, this TEMA style is the most expensive design.
Also, there is less surface per given shell-and-tube diamater than other
removable designs.

Removable Bundle, U-Tube. This type includes BEU and AEU. Because
each tube can expand and contract independently, this design is suitable for
larger thermal shock applications.
The U-tube design allows for differential thermal expansion between the
shell and the tube bundle as well as for individual tubes. Other advantages
include a shell circuit that can be inspected and steam or mechanically
cleaned. This design also provides a multipass tube circuit arrangement. The
bundle can be removed from one end for cleaning or replacement.

This design also has several limitations. Because of U-bend, tubes can be
cleaned only by chemical means. Also, because of U-tube nesting, the
individual tubes are difficult to replace. No single tube pass or true
countercurrent flow is possible, and tube wall thickness at the U-bend is
thinner than at straight portion of tubes. Draining the tube circuit is difficult
when mounted with the vertical position with the head side up.