(71v) Heat Exchanger Design Parameters Effect on Low Pressure Side Maximum Pressures during a Tube Failure

More and more heat exchangers are being used to heat and cool very high pressure fluids (over 1,000 psi) with an incompressible low pressure fluid.  API STD 521 recommends that dynamic analysis be performed for heat exchangers in this service to determine the maximum pressure on the low pressure side in the event of a tube failure.  This paper describes the effects of various design criteria that are used for construction and installation of heat exchangers on peak pressures after a tube failure.  The paper and results will focus on high pressure natural gas being cooled with water. Using a transient simulation of both the momentum and fluid flow properties of a high pressure vapor injection into a liquid full system, both the shock effects of the acceleration and the steady state relief is considered.  The results of the modelling will be discussed and general construction and installation guidance will be given.