Bronswerk Heat Transfer has developed the Compact Header Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger, a design that eliminates up to 90% of all channel welds. For the operator this brings huge benefits, both during project execution as well as during its operating lifetime.

As we like to say, the best weld is not a weld, a fact that most of our customers and welding engineers agree on. Due to heat input, the quality of the base metal degrades, which is particularly an issue with dual phase materials such as Duplex or when a high alloy is selected for corrosion protection. Non-Destructive Examination needs to be applied on channel welds with a risk of finding non-conformities and unexpected delays. Finally, the end product is a compromise as the weld and HAZ quality is lower than that of the base material. That is why Bronswerk Heat Transfer applies a channel & tubesheet with virtually no welds, which offers a much better controlled manufacturing process and higher quality end product.

During its lifetime, High Pressure Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers are subject to regular inspections. Depending on the service, these could include NDE on the various welds and checks for delamination. For the Compact Header, the base material is a forging providing much better material quality and no risk for delamination or HIC. The significantly reduced number of welds will ease the workload during Turn-Around and eliminates the risk for repair work in particular.

From a health and safety perspective, the pressurized fluid in our High Pressure Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger is contained in a much smaller diameter and volume than in conventional designs. This ensures less potential energy release in case something goes wrong.

We have been working on innovative, customized new products since 1940 and assist in improving the efficiency of existing plants.