B o lt i n g S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

Collar bolts
in shell and tube heat exchangers
Collar bolts are used in By Baher Elsheikh, SABIC, Saudi Arabia

removable bundle heat

exchangers to hold the In the new, tenth edition of TEMA, which was published
bundle in place and in 2019, recommendations have been added under part
remove the channel RCB-11.8 for the use of collar bolts in removable bundles
with a B-type bonnet. These are summarized below and,
without interrupting
as per the recommended configuration, shown in Fig. 1.
or breaking the seal When specified by the purchaser, collar studs can be used
between the tubesheet on units with removable tube bundles. Collar studs are rec-
and the shell. This ommended for B-type bonnets. The OD of the stationary
tubesheet should match the mating flange OD and should
article examines recent
be through-bolted. Every fourth stud in the bolt circle
specifications on the (with a minimum of four) should be a collar type I for type
use of collar bolts II as shown in Fig. 1.
and concludes with a Collar bolts are only used to maintain the gasket integrity
and position when the channel is removed and torqued
consideration of the
prior to adding pressure.
pros and cons in their As an alternative to collar studs, every fourth bolt hole in
application. the tubesheet can be drilled and tapped to the size of the » Fig. 2. TEMA, figure N-1-2, type B stationary head.

stud bolt. The studs in the threaded holes should be dou-

TYPE I COLLAR STUD (SOLID TYPE) ble nutted on the shell side or provided with machined
1.5 D
+ 1/8” (3mm) 3/4” (19mm) 1/2” (12mm) TYP. flats to allow for the tube side nut without rotating the
MACHINE TO THREAD stud.
ROOT DIAMETER
In API 660, Para 7.5.2.4, a full diameter stationary
tubesheet should be provided for removable tube bundle
R 1/16” (1.5mm) TYP.
exchangers with bonnets (see TEMA, Fig. N-1.2, type B
MACHINE TO THREAD 1/2” (12mm) MIN.
ROOT DIAMETER stationary head, quoted in Fig. 2). The tubesheet should
FINISH SQUARE (OR FLATS) be provided with collar studs or tapped tubesheet holes
for a minimum of 25% of the bolts (with a minimum
TYPE II COLLAR STUD (NUT TYPE)
75% DIA FLAT of four). It should be possible to hrostatically test the
3/4” (19mm) (OR SQUARE) tubesheet design of the shell side when the bonnet has
MACHINE HEAVY HEX NUT
TO MINOR DIAMETER been removed and all the bolts have been installed.
If collar bolts or drilled and tapped holes are used, then at
least four should be permitted and their location should
DRILL AND TAP FOR STUD
be identified on the drawings and by stamped markings
1/4” (6mm) SET SCREW on the OD of the tubesheet.
In PIP VEFV1100M Vessel/S&T Heat Exchanger Stand-
ASSEMBLY AND DRILLING DETAILS(TYPES I AND II) ard Details, a standard configuration for the collar bolts
dimensions is provided as shown in Fig. 3.
+ 1/8” (3mm)
COLLAR DIA

Surface condensers are designed to the requirements of

COLLAR LENGTH + 1/8” (3mm)
the Heat Exchange Institute (HEI) per the typical con-
figuration shown in Fig. 4, in which both the tubesheet
is fixed and the gasket between the tubesheet and shell
flanges cannot be attended to without the removal of one
of the tubesheets.
The following warning is quoted from the manual of
CHANNEL GIRTH FLANGE SHELL GIRTH FLANGE one of the most famous and reputable surface condenser
manufacturers in the world:
TUBESHEET “It is important not to break the seal between tubesheet
and shell flange. The tubes are expanded into each
tubesheet holding them firmly in place, and the shell
Fig. 1. seal must not be replaced without retubing the entire
»

Heat Exchanger World May 2020 39

B o lt i n g S p e c i f i c a t i o n s

condenser. To prevent breaking the joint, it is important

that all the nuts are removed from the waterbox flange TUBESHEET
side and not from the shell flange side. Do not loosen or TUBE
remove the stake studs and double nuts on the shell side.”
A leak on the shell side would have a great impact at the GASKET
plant as it would break the vacuum. The use of collar SHELL SIDE GASKET TUBE SIDE
bolts in such a configuration is a must.
Despite the illustrated advantages of using collar bolts,
there is debate in the industry about disadvantages in
their use as well – namely that they might be might

C
bring about more trouble from their inclusion instead
of enhancing the maintainability of the heat exchanger.
In the following section, their main pros and cons are WRENCH FLATS

summarized. THREADED COLLAR

COUNTERBORE (FOR
Pros and cons LOCKING STUD ONLY)
Pros for the use of collar bolts
OVERALL LENGTH
The main objective and advantage in using collar bolts
SPECIFIED BOLT LENGTH
is to enhance maintainability, considering the fact that
THREAD TO
each time the channel is removed, the bundle should be SUITE LOCKING
STUD
removed for replacing the gasket between the tubesheet
and the shell to avoid leakage after pressurizing the
exchanger. The replacement of the bundle gasket is time WRENCH FLATS THREAD FULL LENGTH THREADED COLLAR
consuming and increases Mean Time To Repair/Restore
(MTTR).
Cons for the use of the collar bolts
(a) An alternative viewpoint on the use of collar bolts Fig. 3.Colllar bolt/locking stud for heat exchangers.
»

is that it is not mandatory to remove the bundle if

the channel is removed. This opinion is based on the
experience of using kamprofile gaskets with graphite
facing and the application of initial correct stress and
following the use of the recommended torque to reach Impingement Exhaust Relief Valve
Protection (*) Connection(s) Connection
the desired gasket stress.
(b) In cases where the use of tapped holes results in bolts Condenser Air Off-
Dome
that stick, the amount of time needed to attend to Area Shell Take(s)
Tube
machining and the replacement of bolts would be time Support Tubes Water
consuming and might be beyond the feasible limits of Plates Outlet(s)
the maintenance crew for this task. Pass
(c) Inadequate marking or stamping of the collar bolts Partition

might mislead the maintenance crew, and collar bolts

might be removed by mistake.
(d) There might be relative higher cost accruing to the
larger tubesheet size and the aching required for the
bolt holes in the tubesheet.

References:
(1) API Std 660 - Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
(2) TEMA Tenth Edition, 2019 (Standards Of The Tubular
Exchanger Manufacturers Association).
Water
(3) PIP VEFV1100M Vessel/S&T Heat Exchanger Stand- Inlet(s)
ard Details.
(4) Explore The World Of Piping – EWP
http://www.wermac.org/equipment/collarbolt.html) « Bathtub
Shell Hotwell
Waterbox Support
Expansion or Vertical
Flange Saddles
Joint Cylindrical
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Type
Hand Waterbox Shell
Baher Elsheikh is a Mechanical Engineer at SABIC. He has Flange Condensate
Holes (*) Cover
seventeen years of experience in the engineering, reliability, Outlet(s)
construction, commissioning and inspection management Tubesheet
of pressure equipment, piping systems, fired heaters, and
power boilers.
Fig. 4. Surface condenser.
»

40 Heat Exchanger World May 2020