Orientation and Mounting

A horizontal exchanger on saddles is the default and suits most duty. A vertical unit saves floor space, drains under gravity and self-vents, at the cost of overhead clearance for bundle removal. A tank-mounted bundle entering through a manway flange is a different animal entirely, heating the contents of a vessel rather than a stream passing through.

• Horizontal is the default. Saddle supported, straightforward to pipe, and the arrangement most standard units are designed around.
• Sliding and fixed saddles. One saddle fixed, one slotted, sized for calculated shell growth. Fixing both transmits thermal load into the nozzles and the pipework.

• Bundle pull clearance. Clear space at least equal to bundle length in line with the shell, plus handling room. The most commonly forgotten item in a layout.
• Vertical saves floor space. Gravity drainage of condensate, self-venting at the top, and a much smaller footprint on a crowded plot.

• Overhead lift on vertical units. The equivalent constraint to horizontal pull clearance, and just as easy to overlook.
• Tank mounted bundles. A U-bundle entering through an ANSI manway flange to heat vessel contents directly, with no external circulation loop.