Industrial Heat Exchangers

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TEMA Type Heat Exchangers
TEMA is a set of standards developed by leading heat exchanger manufacturers that defines the design and
manufacturing parameters of shell and tube type heat exchangers. TEMA stands for Tubular Exchanger
Manufacturers Association. TEMA standards provide a recognized approach to end users and allow
comparison between competitive designs for a given application.
TEMA is comprised of three different classes to categorize designs; TEMA R, TEMA B & TEMA C. In addition,
TEMA developed Recommended Good Practice, for situations not covered by the three established classes.
All TEMA Classes comply with ASME Section VIII, Division 1.
TEMA R: Unfired shell and tube heat exchangers for the generally severe requirements of
petroleum and related processing applications.
TEMA B: Unfired shell and tube heat exchangers for chemical process service.
TEMA C: Unfired shell and tube heat exchangers for the generally moderate requirements of
commercial and general process applications.
TEMA C generally specified in more typical shell and tube heat exchanger applications that do not require the
severe requirements of chemical or petroleum processing service.
Nomenclature
TEMA has developed nomenclature to describe the construction type of a TEMA type shell and tube heat
exchanger. TEMA designations use a letter to describe; the front head design, the shell design and the rear
head design. For example, a TEMA type BEM has a type B front head, a type E shell and a type M rear head
design. The TEMA Standard provides a description of each Head and Shell type.
Examples of Common TEMA Type Heat Exchangers
Straight Tube, Fixed Tubesheet (eg. Type BEM, AEM, NEN)
Tubesheet is welded to the shell and the heads are bolted to the tubesheet.
A removable bonnet or cover plate design is provided to facilitate tube cleaning.
Advantages
Typically lowest cost TEMA design per square foot
of heat transfer surface.
Provides maximum amount of surface for a given
shell and tube diameter and length.
Can be single or multiple tube side passes to
assure proper velocity
Limitations
Shell side can only be chemically cleaned.
No natural provision to allow for differential thermal
expansion, an expansion joint must be used.
Applications
Oil Coolers, Liquid to Liquid, Vapor condensers, reboilers, gas coolers
Generally, more viscous and warmers fluids flow through the shell
Corrosive or high fouling fluids should flow inside the tubes
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Removable Bundle, U-Tube (eg. Type BEU, AEU)
Well suited for severe performance requirements with maximum thermal expansion capability.
Each tube can expand and contract independently.
Advantages
U-tube design allows for differential thermal
expansion between the shell and the tube bundle
as well as for individual tubes
Less costly than floating head or packed floating
head designs
Capable of withstanding thermal shock applications
Bundle can be removed from one end for cleaning
or replacement
Shell circuit can be inspected and steam or
mechanically cleaned
Limitations
Because of u-bend, tubes can be cleaned only by chemical means
No single tube pass or true countercurrent flow is possible
Draining of tube circuit is difficult when mounted with the vertical position with the head side up
Applications
Oil, chemical and water heating applications
Excellent in steam to liquid applications
Removable Bundle, Externally Sealed Floating Tubesheet (eg. Type OP, AEW, BEW)
Removable bundle with floating tubesheet sealed to prevents intermixing of fluids.
Advantages
Floating tubesheet allows for differential thermal
expansion between the shell and tube bundle
The tube bundle can be repaired or replaced
without disturbing shell pipe
Shell circuit can be inspected and steam or
mechanically cleaned
Maximum surface for given shell diameter for
removable bundle design
Limitations
Fluids in both the shell and tube circuits must be
non-volatile, non-toxic
All tubes are attached to two tubesheets. Tubes
cannot expand independently so that large thermal shock applications should be avoided
Packing materials produce limits on design pressure and temperature
Applications
Intercoolers and aftercoolers, air inside the tubes
Coolers with water inside the tubes
Jacket water coolers or other high differential temperature duty
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Removable Bundle, Outside Packed Head (eg. Type BEP, AEP)
Removable, straight tube bundle.
Packed, skirted floating tubesheet.
Advantages
Floating tubesheet allows for differential thermal
expansion between the shell and the tube bundle
The tube bundle can be repaired or replaced without
disturbing shell piping.
Shell circuit can be inspected and steam cleaned.
On AEP design, tubes can be serviced without
disturbing tubeside piping
Only shell fluids are exposed to packing. Toxic or
volatile fluids can be cooled in the tubeside circuit
Limitations
Shell fluids limited to non volatile, non toxic materials
Packing limits shell side design temperature and pressure
All tubes are attached to two tubesheets. Tubes cannot expand independently so that large thermal
shock applications should be avoided
Less surface per given shell and tube diameter than AEW or BEW
Applications
Flammable or toxic liquids in the tube circuit
Good for high fouling liquids in the tube circuit
Removable Bundle, Internal Split Ring Floating Head (eg. Type AES, BES)
Removable straight-tube bundle.
Split Clamp Ring
Advantages
Ideal for applications requiring frequent tube bundle
removal for inspection and cleaning.
Floating head design allows for differential thermal
expansion between the shell and the tube bundle
Shell circuit can be inspected and steam cleaned.
Higher surface per given shell and tube diameter
than pull-through designs such as AET, BET, etc.
Limitations
Shell cover, split ring and floating head cover must
be removed to remove the tube bundle, results in higher maintenance cost than pull-through
More costly per square foot of surface than fixed tube sheet or U-tube designs
Applications
Chemical processing applications for toxic fluids
Special intercoolers and aftercoolers
General industrial applications
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Removable Bundle, Pull-Through Floating Head (eg. Type AET, BET)
Removable straight tube bundle
Floating head
Advantages
Ideal for applications requiring frequent tube bundle
removal for inspection and cleaning.
Floating head design allows for differential thermal
expansion between the shell and the tube bundle
Shell circuit can be inspected and steam or
mechanically cleaned
Provides large bundle entrance area for proper fluid
distribution
Suitable for toxic or volatile fluid cooling
Limitations
For a given set of conditions, this TEMA style is the most expensive design
Less surface per given shell and tube diameter than other removable designs
Applications
Chemical processing applications for toxic fluids
Hydrocarbon fluid condensers
General industrial applications requiring frequent cleaning

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