Heat Exchanger Integrity
Tubes, shells, fouling, erosion, corrosion and leak detection in process heat-transfer equipment.
What this topic covers
Tubes, shells, fouling, erosion, corrosion and leak detection in process heat-transfer equipment.
Core ideas
Heat exchangers combine thermal duty with thin-walled tubes and multiple fluid boundaries.
Fouling and corrosion can reduce performance before a leak occurs.
Condition assessment combines process performance, inspection and maintenance history.
Program tradeoffs
Localized damage can make simple averages misleading, so engineering decisions need representative evidence and applicable acceptance criteria.
What good evidence looks like
Repairs, pressure testing, entry and live process work are specialized activities outside this site's procedural scope.
Lifecycle perspective
Trend tools here illustrate data behaviour only and never establish safe remaining life or retirement limits.