Evaluation of integrity of the tubes in the horizontal fixed tubesheet heat exchanger by using equivalent modeling

Finite element analysis was performed to evaluate the integrity of the tubes in the fixed tubesheet of horizontal type heat exchanger under operating condition. For the finite element analysis of the heat exchanger, tubes and tubesheets were equivalently modeled with concentroidal hexagonal columns and solid plates having equivalent properties for the convenience of finite element modeling, respectively. Load combination of tube pressure and thermal expansion most likely to precipitate possible failure of the tubes was selected and applied to the finite element analysis. The compressive stresses of the tubes were calculated based on displacements of each tube, which were obtained from finite element analysis. Finally, the maximum tube stress was compared with the design criterion of ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII