NORSOK STANDARD

MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT SELECTION

R-100
Rev. 2, November 1997
Please note that whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the NORSOK standards
neither OLF nor TBL or any of their members will assume liability for any use thereof.
Mechanical equipment selection R-100
Rev. 2, November 1997

CONTENTS
FOREWORD 2
INTRODUCTION 2
1 SCOPE 3
2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES 3
2.1 Gas turbine 3
2.2 Compressors 3
2.3 Centrifugal pumps 3
2.4 Heat exchangers 3
3 DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS 4
3.1 Definitions 4
3.2 Abbreviations 4
4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 4
4.1 Reparability and maintainability 4
4.2 Driver selection 5
4.3 Availability and sparing 5
4.4 Pinch analysis 5
4.5 Prime vendor and vendor prequalification 5
4.6 Codes and standards 5
4.7 Technical documents 6
5 GAS TURBINES 6
5.1 Selection 6
5.2 Sizing and performance rating 6
6 GAS COMPRESSORS 7
6.1 Selection of compressor type 7
6.2 Centrifugal compressor 8
6.3 Screw compressors 9
7 CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS 9
7.1 Pump selection 9
7.2 Performance and energy conservation 10
7.3 Transient analysis 10
7.4 Requirements to design 10
8 SHAFT-SEALING AND BEARING SYSTEM 10
8.1 Selection of seals and bearings types 10
8.2 Seal oil systems 11
8.3 Dry gas seal for compressors 11
8.4 Magnetic bearings 11
9 DRIVER TRAIN TRANSMISSION 12
9.1 Transmissions with speed control 12
10 WASTE HEAT RECOVERY UNITS (WHRU) 13
10.1 WHRU Selection 13
10.2 Functional requirements 13
10.3 Supplementary firing 13
11 HEAT EXCHANGERS 14
11.1 Shell and tube heat exchangers 14
11.2 Plate heat exchangers 15
11.3 Matrix type heat exchangers (Compact heat exchangers with bonded plates) 15

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FOREWORD

NORSOK (The competitive standing of the Norwegian offshore sector) is the industry initiative to
add value, reduce cost and lead time and remove unnecessary activities in offshore field
developments and operations.

The NORSOK standards are developed by the Norwegian petroleum industry as a part of the
NORSOK initiative and are jointly issued by OLF (The Norwegian Oil Industry Association) and
TBL (Federation of Norwegian Engineering Industries). NORSOK standards are administered by
NTS (Norwegian Technology Standards Institution).

The purpose of this industry standard is to replace the individual oil company specifications for use
in existing and future petroleum industry developments, subject to the individual company's review
and application.

The NORSOK standards make extensive references to international standards. Where relevant, the
contents of this standard will be used to provide input to the international standardisation process.
Subject to implementation into international standards, this NORSOK standard will be withdrawn.

INTRODUCTION

This standard replaces R-DP-001, rev. 1, April 1996 and includes some revisions marked with a
vertical line in the margin.

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1 SCOPE

This standard defines selection criteria and -guidelines for mechanical equipment. The standard
shall be used for optimised conceptual work, preliminary and detail design phase for oil production
facilities, but is also for verification of selection and sizing of equipment before placement of
orders. This standard shall not be used for purchasing of equipment.

The standard covers guidelines for the selection and sizing of rotating machinery and other
mechanical equipment in critical service in oil installations, such as:

• Gas or oil processing.

• Power generation.
• Gas or oil export.

2 NORMATIVE REFERENCES

The following standards include provisions which, through reference in this text, constitute
provisions of this NORSOK standard. Latest issue of the references shall be used unless otherwise
agreed. Other recognized standards may be used provided it can be shown that they meet or exceed
the requirements of the standards referenced below.

2.1 Gas turbine

API 616 Type H Industrial Combustion Gas Turbines for Refinery Services. (Replace
with ISO 3977 when issued)

2.2 Compressors
API 617 Centrifugal Compressors for General Refinery Services (Replace with ISO
13711 when issued)
API 11P Specification for Packaged Reciprocating Compressors for Oil and Gas
Production Services.
API 619 Rotary - type Positive Displacement Compressors for General Refinery Service.
(Replace with ISO 10440 when issued).

2.3 Centrifugal pumps

API 610 Centrifugal Pumps for General Refinery Services. (Replace with ISO 13709
when issued)
NFPA 20 Firewater Pumps.
Hydraulic Institute Standards for centrifugal, rotary & reciprocating pumps.

2.4 Heat exchangers

TEMA Class R Tubular Exchanger Manufacturing Association.

Pressure retaining equipment shall be designed in accordance with one of the following codes:

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BS 5500 Unfired Fusion Welded Pressure Vessels.

ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code, section VIII division 1 & 2.
TBK 1 & 2 General Rules For Pressure Vessels.

3 DEFINITIONS AND ABBREVIATIONS

3.1 Definitions
Can Can-requirements are conditional and indicates a possibility open to the user of
the standard.
Critical service Critical service is defined as a service where failure of the machine to operate
correctly results in an unsafe condition which puts the lives of personnel at risk
or jeopardises equipment. Further, it is a service where failure of the machine to
operate correctly makes a plant or process unacceptable as a production unit.
High criticality requires equipment with high quality, high reliability, stringent
testing and eventually redundancy. Alternatively, three half-capacity machines
shall be specified, two running in parallel with the third unit as a spare.
May May indicates a course of action that is permissible within the limits of the
standard (a permission).
Shall Shall is an absolute requirement which shall be followed strictly in order to
conform with the standard.
Should Should is a recommendation. Alternative solutions having the same
functionality and quality are acceptable.

3.2 Abbreviations
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
TBK Norwegian Pressure Vessel Committee
TEMA Tabular Exchangers Manufacturers Association
WHRU Waste Heat Recovery Unit

4 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Reparability and maintainability

The design of mechanical equipment shall prepare for optimum operation and maintainability.
Effort shall be made, to standardise the spares stocking by minimising the variety of makes and
types of driven equipment, drivers and auxiliary equipment selected for any particular project. This
standardisation shall be applied so far as it does not interfere with the selection of an optimal
solution for the specified operating conditions.

Equipment should be accessible to obtain and maintain. Equipment should be capable of being
removed for maintenance. Equipment should be prepared for condition monitoring. Equipment
should be capable of being isolated from pressure for maintenance and any gas/liquid inside the
isolation be capable of being bled off and flushed out.

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Environmental protection should be considered such as capturing accidental and intentional

drainage and venting from the equipment.

4.2 Driver selection

A selection study shall be made in the conceptual project phase in order to define the primary
selection of drivers for the largest compressors and pumps.

4.3 Availability and sparing

An availability and sparing evaluation shall be undertaken by the purchaser to evaluate the benefit
of increased equipment availability against the cost of purchasing and installing spare equipment.
Vendors experience of the equipment shall be obtained to ensure that the equipment selection does
not include prototype equipment. Proven experience is considered having at least one year in service
with good record of two comparable units.

Generally, all rotating equipment in critical service shall have installed spare units. However, units
with intermittent service or high investment costs e.g. pumps driven by gas turbine, may dictate
against sparing. Rotating equipment shall be standardised to minimise spare parts inventory as far as
it does not interfere with the selection of an optimal unit for the specified operating conditions.

4.4 Pinch analysis

Energy-conservation is of concern, and innovative energy-conserving approaches shall be pursued.
Equipment efficiencies and utility energy consumption shall be optimised. Due to the current/future
emphasis on the environmental and imposition of energy/CO2 taxes, the choice of high efficiency
systems and components is imperative. Equipment manufacturers shall be encouraged to suggest
alternatives when such approaches achieve improved energy effectiveness and reduced total life
costs without sacrifice of safety or reliability.

4.5 Prime vendor and vendor prequalification

Compressors, pumps, drivers and mechanical equipment that make up a complete unit shall be
ordered from the manufacturer of one of these components, and this prime vendor shall become
responsible for the satisfactory performance of the complete unit. Further, this manufacturer shall
warrant and guarantee all equipment and component parts as stipulated in the relevant specifications
and purchase order.

When prequalifying and selecting rotating machinery for critical services, the Vendors operating
experience of the equipment shall be obtained to ensure that the equipment selection does not
include prototype equipment. Prototypes shall not be used without Company approval and in such
cases show considerable benefits with respect to technical properties, economy and/or safety.
Selection of a prototype would require extensive work tests under full load conditions. Major
redesign or newly developed main components, such as impellers, shall be regarded as prototype.

Furthermore Company experience, operating costs and standardisation requirements for identical or
similar equipment shall be checked and taken into consideration when comparing bids. Life-cycle
costs shall be estimated and used as selection criteria.

4.6 Codes and standards

The equipment covered by this standard shall be designed and supplied in accordance with the
codes and standards listed in section 2 Normative references.

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4.7 Technical documents

The preparation of inquiries on mechanical equipment shall only include the direct relevant and
main functional standards for purchasing in accordance with NORSOK.

5 GAS TURBINES

5.1 Selection

5.1.1 Gas turbine type

A two-shaft gas turbine should preferably be selected for mechanical drives because a variable
power turbine speed is an advantage for capacity control. Attention shall be given to gas turbines
which allow direct coupling to the driven equipment eliminating the requirement for a gearbox.

5.1.2 Operating experience

In general, only gas turbines with a minimum of 2 years proven experience are acceptable (16000
running hours on a single machine). This is applicable for new turbines and larger redesigns. The
Supplier shall be inquired with regard to information about recent technical changes. A new
combination of a gas generator and a power turbine, which both can show proven experience as
individual machines, requires normally a judgement of operating experiences in order to ensure that
the design is reliable together with test results.

5.1.3 Exhaust gas emissions

All new gas turbines shall have provisions for easy modifications for future NOx-reduction systems.
Only proven and tested systems shall be used. The reliability shall be documented from other
installations.

5.2 Sizing and performance rating

5.2.1 ISO rated power

For mechanical drive turbines, the power output shall be defined at the turbine coupling, before any
gearbox losses. For generator drive, the power output shall be defined at the generator terminals,
and therefore includes all losses in the unit.

5.2.2 Site rated power

The site rated power is the power delivered by the gas turbine when fitted with inlet filters, inlet and
exhaust silencers including waste heat recovery unit (WHRU) when applied, operating at the
specified ambient temperature, pressure and humidity for the site. A site rated performance shall be
calculated from the manufacturers ISO rated performance using correction curves for the turbines
concerned. The pressure losses used for intake and exhaust systems shall be obtained from the
supplier for fully fouled and worn conditions.

The base load rating shall normally be used. The base load rating is to be based on ambient
conditions.

Exceeding base load operating temperatures for short excursions, when the ambient temperature is
high, turbine rating can be compensated by running below these temperatures for longer periods

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when the ambient temperature is low. This flat rated power is achieved with no reduction of
turbine life or reduction in time between overhauls when compared with an turbine operating
continuously at maximum base load output.

Flat rating shall not be used, unless a guaranteed and fixed value on maximum power turbine inlet
temperature or firing control temperature can be given.

5.2.3 Power margin between compressor and gas turbine

API 617 specifies that the margin between the greatest power required by the compressor and the
rating of a steam turbine or electric motor should be at least 10%.

The power margin for the gas turbine must be sufficient to cover the following contingencies:

1. A 2% tolerance (50% of API 617 para.) on compressor power during testing compared with the
guaranteed value.
2. An average compressor deterioration and power reduction of 3% is appropriate for a 'normal'
compressor.
3. Gas turbine performance deterioration. The power reduction is estimated to be 7% for an
aeroderivative type gas turbine, between the as new condition and the point where the turbine is
withdrawn for overhaul.

A minimum margin of 12% (=2+3+7) for aeroderivative gas turbines is required between
compressor rated power and the gas turbine site rating to allow for normal service deterioration.

5.2.4 Power margin between electrical generator and gas turbine

The generator performance deterioration is regarded to be negligible.

5.2.5 Gearbox losses

For performance calculations, the gearbox mechanical losses shall be considered as 2.5% of the
input power.

6 GAS COMPRESSORS

6.1 Selection of compressor type

The centrifugal compressor type shall be used wherever possible, provided the centrifugal
compressor can handle the required flow with a reasonable efficiency.

6.1.1 Reliability, sparing and standardisation

High availability and reliability are considered as primary criteria for selecting this type of
machinery.

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6.2 Centrifugal compressor

6.2.1 Selection
A compressor selection study shall be made in the conceptual engineering phase i.e. by use of
computerised selection programs and data bases. The results from the preliminary selection may
include some or all of the following variables:

• Number and types of compressor casings.

• Number of impellers in each casing.
• Rotational speeds.
• Type of seals.
• Frame size.
• Performance data.
• Rating and operating conditions.
• Rotor stability.
• Rotordynamic and aerodynamic behaviour.
• Sparing alternatives.
• Rewheeling strategy.
• Advanced seals and bearings.
• Type of base plate.
• Weight & space requirements.

6.2.2 Compressor design basis and selection criteria

The selected compressor configuration shall be based on the following parameters:

• Polytropic head per impeller shall be limited to 3600 meter.

• To qualify, the vendor should have delivered at least two impellers to identical size to those
offered and for these to be operating successfully with the same thermodynamic conditions on a
gas of the same molecular weight in one year.
• The maximum number of impellers per casing shall preferably be limited to 8 but shall not
exceed 9 for straight through design, and shall not exceed 8 for back to back machines, to keep
bearing span to a minimum, and critical speeds as high as possible.
• Gas discharge temperature shall preferably be below 160°C to limit thermal problems.
• Radial split barrel type compressors are required for offshore services irrespective of pressure
level.
• Tips speeds should be limited to 270 m/s.
• Compressor blade tip Mach numbers shall preferably be below 0.95. Higher tip Mach numbers
may be unavoidable for low pressure compressors handling heavy gases.

6.2.3 Rotordynamic and rotorstability evaluation

For high pressure applications having an average gas density above 50 kg/m3, an Aerodynamic cross
coupling stiffness and log decrement analysis has to be made.

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6.2.4 Anti-surge control system selection

The preliminary definition of anti-surge protection strategy shall be made in the conceptual phase
based on operating requirements. The anti-surge control system is a protection system and shall not
be used as a process control system.

6.2.5 Reciprocating compressors

Reciprocating compressors are selected when the volumetric flow is small and the thermodynamic
head is high. For offshore applications it is important to ensure high reliability and ability for the
compressor to be controlled automatically/remotely.

The use of gearbox shall be avoided. Where process requirements dictate a variation in flow,
capacity control should be achieved preferably by a by-pass loop. Suction valve unloading and
clearance pockets may only be used with company approval. For continuous service with varying
loads/capacities consideration shall be given to variable speed drivers.

6.3 Screw compressors

Screw compressors should be selected where low pulsations and surge free operation are desirable.
The pressure limit is approximately 25 bara. Dry Screw compressors shall be considered where the
system characteristic requires a constant volumetric flow between 3000-20000 m3/h and pressure
ratios between 1.3 to 2.5. For higher pressure ratios multi-staging can be considered. Process
applications where screw compressors may be selected are:

• When gases contain liquid droplets.

• As vapour blowers.
• Compression of light gases.

Dry type oil free compressors are preferred. Oil of liquid injected compressors shall not be selected
for handling hydrocarbon gases.

For oil free helical screw compressors the configuration shall be based on the following criteria:

• Pressure ratio per stage shall be limited to 2.5. For higher pressure ratios extra stages shall be
considered.
• Gas discharge temperatures should be limited to 150°C.
• Peripheral speeds for helical screw compressors shall be 50 to 100 m/s.
• Mach. numbers based on suction conditions shall not exceed 0.24.

7 CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS

7.1 Pump selection

A pump selection shall be made during the conceptual phase to establish an optimum pump type
and configuration with regards to cost, hydraulic performance, operating efficiency and reliability.
Care shall be taken when establishing the pump suction conditions to ensure that adequate NPSH is
provided under all operating conditions, including the pump in the worn condition (2xAPI
clearance). Variations in flow and/or head requirements or special operating conditions, which can
affect the choice of pump and driver, shall be clearly indicated.

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Preference shall be given to pumps which incorporate modular construction, to simplify platform
on-site maintenance. Barrel type pumps are preferred for multistage pump applications. For pumps
in critical service and shaft power exceeding 500 kW, proximity probes for shaft vibration
monitoring shall be installed.

7.2 Performance and energy conservation

Equipment efficiencies and utility consumption shall be optimised for pumps with output above 200
kW. For large pump installations, variable speed drivers or transmissions shall always be considered
due to energy conservation.

7.3 Transient analysis

Unduly high or low pressures in pipeline systems shall be avoided by means of suitable pressure
surge protection devices, such as surge tank stand pipes at intermediate points, breakaway of the
liquid column, venting the line downstream from suction tank, etc. On above basis, a transient
analysis shall be carried out for the pumping system.

7.4 Requirements to design

For new/unproven pumps larger than 1MW, some or all of the following features shall be verified:

• Bearing design.
• Thrust balance including measurement of residual loads in worktests/field.
• Acceptable vibration levels.
• Calculation methods for rotor dynamics.
• Instrumentation.
• Both accelerometer & proximity sensors to be evaluated.
• Condition monitoring system.
• Stool/baseplate design.
• Preliminary structural design including pump unit.
• Maintenance handling cranes and laydown facilities.

7.4.1 Offshore installations of sea water lift pumps

The various elevations of the pump set, relative to the platform and pump support structure, shall be
clearly illustrated on a sketch provided with the pump data sheet. When establishing the required
pump submergence, the effect of wave motion, superimposed on LAT (Lowest Astronomical Tide),
plus the effects of platform settlement and drawdown shall be taken into consideration.

8 SHAFT-SEALING AND BEARING SYSTEM

8.1 Selection of seals and bearings types

Sealing and bearing systems can be grouped as follows:

• Wet systems (lube- and seal oil systems), incl. oil film seals or oil mechanical seals and oil
lubricated bearings.

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• Dry systems, incl. dry running gas seals and magnetic bearings. Active magnetic bearings can be
use in conjunction with any gas seals and dry couplings enabling certain compressors to be made
oil free.
• Combination of dry and wet system with dry running gas seals and oil lubricated bearings. This is
the preferred systems for new compressors and shall be considered for all installations. However,
a special review shall be on rotordynamics and stability constraints.

8.2 Seal oil systems

If the wet system has to be used, the choice has to be made between separate lube oil system and
seal oil system for the compressor train or a combined lube and seal oil system for the complete
train. Combined lube and seal oil systems are used for pipeline or other applications compressing
clean and sweet dry gas at relatively low pressure where significant contamination of the lube oil
does not occur.

Separate seal and lube oil systems are preferable for sour gas with considerable amounts of
condensate C4 and above. By removing the lube oil from the contaminating source, bearing failure
due to viscosity reduction shall be avoided. In order to avoid low seal oil flash points, it is normally
required to install supplementary degassing facilities when heavy components are present in the gas.
An atmospheric degassing tank will generally only release contaminants up to C3, and
supplementary degassing facilities are required for C4 plus removal. Two principal routes have been
found to be effective:
1. Vacuum reclamation.
2. Gas sparging.

8.3 Dry gas seal for compressors

Compressor seals and sealing systems shall be selected based on the availability and proven
technology, with the objective to have the most cost effective solution. Triple seals shall only be
used where strictly necessary, for example due to very high pressures. In such cases, an extensive
rotor dynamic evaluation shall be agreed with company.

O-ring materials shall be evaluated for high pressures and rapid decompressions. For pressures
above 100 bara alternative materials to standard elastomer O-rings shall be evaluated. Seal type and
system shall be proven by at least two comparable operating references.

The seal must be able to withstand seal pressure fluctuations down to under atmospheric. If
backwards rotation can occur, it is required to select a seal which has the ability to rotate in both
directions.

8.3.1 Settle-out pressure, shaft seals and oil systems

Settle-out pressure and off-design process pressure conditions, which occur during start-up,
shutdown and upset must be defined on the compressor data sheet.

8.4 Magnetic bearings

Initial design studies for installation and rotor dynamic analysis shall be made if magnetic bearings
are arranged.

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9 DRIVER TRAIN TRANSMISSION

9.1 Transmissions with speed control

Combined hydraulic torque converter and planetary gear units are acceptable for moderate
powers/speeds up to 10000 kW/12000 rpm. 2 types of gear/coupling units with speed control shall
be considered:

1. Hydrodynamic torque converter, or variable speed hydrodynamic coupling efficiency.

2. A combined superimposing planetary gear and a hydrodynamic torque converter (or an external
motor/pump) which activates the gear. The efficiency is high.

The selection shall be based on evaluation of the following aspects:

• A compact unit design with integrated gear stage.

• Motor starting under no load - stopping of the turbocompressor while the motor continues to run
(rapid emptying).
• Variable speed control range.
• Damping of shock loads through hydrodynamic power transmission.
• Use of standard mineral oils as working medium.
• Efficiency.

Figure 1: Diagram presentation of power margin between gas turbine and compressor

COMPRESSOR GAS HORSEPOWER

MECHANICAL LOSSES
GAS TURBINE SITE RATED POWER
GEAR BOX LOSS 2.5%

API 617 PERFORMANCE TOLERANCE 4%

PERFORMANCE LOSS HORSEPOWER 3%

POWER MARGIN

PERFORMANCE DETORIATION

GUARANT. MAX RATED POWER EXHAUST PRESSURE LOSS

INTAKE PRESSURE LOSS

AMBIENT TEMP. CORRECTION

GAS TURBINE ISO RATING HORSEPOWER

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10 WASTE HEAT RECOVERY UNITS (WHRU)

10.1 WHRU Selection

WHRU's for gas turbines are used for the following applications:

Simple heat recovery: Heat generation in a closed loop heating medium system.
Cogeneration: Steam generation for utility and/or process use.
Combined cycle: Combined heat and power generation.

Firetube units are mainly applied for diesel (or duel flue) engines, and for high pressure processes.
These units may operate with process gas streams up to 30 barg and 1200°C, and heating medium
pressure up to 120 barg. Firetube units may be used where gas leakage must be eliminated, and
where purity of the steam is not critical.

Watertube units are very flexible. The units may be composed of vertical or horizontal tubes with
natural or forced circulation. Watertube units may handle high heating medium pressures and are
suitable for very high gas flow rates.

A multiple pressure boiler design is applicable only for very large combined cycles or special
cogeneration cases. For preliminary calculations the following figures may be used:

Pinch point: 20°C

Approach temp. (eco): 12°C
Approach temp. (SH): 30°C

Surface area and pinch point are subject for optimisation with respect to pressure drop, weight and
thermal efficiency. WHRU's shall be have their dedicated heater within the heating medium system.
Induct burners upstream of waste heat boilers shall only be used with approval.

10.2 Functional requirements

Thermal design shall be based upon the available waste heat for all operating modes accounting for
variations to ambient conditions, number of engine units operating and range of output.

WHRU shall not be designed for running dry. A by-pass system with required automatic dampers
shall be installed and is used when WHRU is out of operation.

For dual flue gas turbines, consideration must be given to the minimum flue gas temperature to
avoid acid condensation on the heating surfaces.

10.3 Supplementary firing

Duct burners may raise the temperature to 700-750°C, and increase the duct draught loss
moderately. Intertube burners may raise the temperature to 1200-1400°C. The draught loss is higher
than for a duct burner. Register/Rejector burners require a furnace, and may be duel-flue. Only
proven burner technology shall be applied

The NOx emission shall be reduced by using low-NOx burner technology such as:
• Staged combustion (staged air or staged flue).

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• Divided air supply combined with swirl to enhance turbulence.

• Internal or external flue gas recirculation.

11 HEAT EXCHANGERS

11.1 Shell and tube heat exchangers

11.1.1 Maintenance aspects

Special consideration shall be given to determine if the heat exchanger shall be located in a
horizontal or vertical position due to maintenance and inspection requirements. Space for
tubebundle withdrawal, access for platform crane, inspection requirements may also affect the
choice of heat exchanger type.

11.1.2 Tubeside and shellside fluid allocation

The criteria for fluid allocation shall be:

• The most corrosive to be tubeside.

• The higher pressure fluid to be tubeside.
• Severe fouling fluids shall be allocated the side which is accessible.
• Shellside boiling or condensation is usually preferred.
• Specific pressure drop.

When pressure drop is critical, shellside flow is preferred as baffle arrangement can be adjusted to
fit specified pressure drop.

11.1.3 Pressure drop

For initial sizing purposes maximum allowable pressure drop shall be:

• 0.5 bar for recompression gas coolers.

• 1.0 bar for medium to high pressure gas coolers.
• 1.0 bar for liquids.

11.1.4 Fixed tubesheet type/shell and tube exchanger

Fixed tubesheet heat exchanger, is the preferred type when operating conditions allow this design.
Limiting factors are shellside fouling conditions and differential temperature between the tubes and
the shell during normal operation, start up, shut down or other conditions. Multiple tubeside passes
shall be avoided

Tube to tubesheet joints shall be checked for expansion stresses. As a guide metal temperature
difference of 50°C can usually be accommodated.

11.1.5 U-Tube type

As the U-bends internally are not accessible for mechanical cleaning, fluid subject to fouling shall
not be on the tube side. TEMA BEU-type is preferred for gas cooling and heating duties with
cooling- or heating medium on the shellside.

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11.1.6 Internal floating head type

There is no limitation in temperature difference between tubeside and shellside streams. Split ring
(S-type) type and floating head is preferred due to less tube bundle by-pass. Shell and tube heat
exchanger with internal floating head design is suitable for fouling service combined with large
temperature differences. This design is preferred for crude heating duties.

11.2 Plate heat exchangers

For moderate design temperatures/pressures and liquid cooling/heating purposes PHE offer a
favourable design with regard to investment cost, heat transfer area, flexibility, space and weight
requirements. Thermal design is normally performed by the vendors, however different
cooling/heating medium flow rates shall be evaluated. Approach temperature as small as 5°C is
normal. Additional heat transfer area to cover fouling shall be: 20%

Plates welded to form cassettes are not accessible for manual cleaning so the fluid should be non-
fouling. The risk of scaling should also be considered.

Typical applications are cooling medium cooling and crude cooling with seawater coolant. Welded
plates should be considered for crude coolers operating at the upper pressure limit. Semiwelded and
fully welded plates should be considered for gas cooling. Utility cooling like lube oil cooling is
normally performed in plate heat exchangers.

11.3 Matrix type heat exchangers (Compact heat exchangers with bonded plates)
Compact heat exchangers with bonded plates have no gaskets or tightening bolts i.e. a single
material construction. They are capable of withstanding very high pressures and temperatures.
Special care shall be taken to avoid fatigue introduced cracking of the core, due to pressure
variations.

Due to small passages they should be used in clean service only. Devices for chemical injection are
recommended. Matrix heat exchangers are suitable for high pressure gas cooling and for high
pressure liquids. They are of special interest for process integration purposes as several
heating/cooling duties can be accommodated in one unit.

When one of the media to be used is hydrocarbon gas, special consideration shall be given for the
hydrate temperature. If the heat exchanger is cooled with sea water, special considerations shall be
given for hydrate formation and scaling.

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