2/3rd Rule for Heat Exchangers

For shell and tube heat exchangers the low-pressure side shall be specified for a
mechanical design
pressure at least equal to 2/3rd of high-pressure side mechanical design pressure. If
this is not possible, a
relief valve of adequate size must protect the low-pressure side. 2/3rd rule shall
necessarily be adhered to
when:
LP fluid is on tube side
Relief discharge cannot be connected to flare header owing to nature of fluid
Relief discharge is two phase and cannot be connected conveniently to a lowpressure destination
with free-draining piping.
Liquid relief cannot be connected to CBD system
When the 2/3rd criteria calls for an increase by less than a factor of 1.5 of the
mechanical design
pressure of the LP side as would be calculated from normal estimation procedures.