Shell and tube heat exchanger selection guide

Name: Britannia Jahco
Address: 18 Healey Road, Dandenong South, VIC, 3175, AU
Telephone: +61 3 9580 5599
Price range: $$

By the Britannia Jahco engineering team

Guide last reviewed: 2 June 2026

Heat exchanger configuration selection

Answer a short set of questions about your service and the calculator recommends a TEMA configuration to take into your Request for Quotation.

Choose your configuration

In short. Three questions about your service drive the configuration choice. Four configuration families answer them. This guide walks through each family and the trade-offs that follow.

Shell and tube heat exchanger selection is the configuration choice an engineer or estimator makes before sending a Request for Quotation. Three questions drive the choice. Four configuration families answer them. The rest of this guide walks through each family and the trade-offs that follow.

In this guide

How a shell and tube heat exchanger works
The three questions that drive the choice
Cleaning and maintenance access
Fixed tubesheet exchangers (BEM and AEN)
U-tube exchangers (BEU and AEU)
Floating head exchangers (BEW and AEW)
Kettle reboilers (BKU)
Materials and when each one is right
Configuration by application
How Britannia Jahco engineers and builds your exchanger
Common configuration-selection mistakes
When a shell and tube exchanger is not the right answer
FAQ
Request a quote

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How a shell and tube heat exchanger works

In short. Two fluids flow on opposite sides of a metal tube wall. Heat moves through the wall by conduction. Seven main parts make up the assembly, and a three-letter TEMA code names every configuration.

A shell and tube heat exchanger is a device that transfers heat between two fluids flowing on opposite sides of a metal tube wall. One fluid runs through the inside of the tubes. The other flows around the outside of the tubes inside a sealed shell. The tube wall keeps the fluids separated. Heat moves through the wall by conduction, driven by the temperature difference between the two streams.

The mechanical assembly has seven main parts:

the shell, a pressure vessel that holds the bundle and contains the shell-side fluid
the tube bundle, a parallel array of tubes that carries the tube-side fluid
the tubesheets, plates at each end that seal the tubes into the shell-side pressure envelope
the channel heads, covers at each end of the shell that direct the tube-side fluid into and out of the bundle
the baffles, internal plates that direct shell-side flow across the bundle and support the tubes
the nozzles, inlet and outlet connections for both fluids
the saddle supports, external structural mounts that carry the shell weight

Figure 1. Shell and tube heat exchanger cross-section. The seven main components labelled, with tube-side and shell-side flow paths.

TEMA letter glossary

In short. The TEMA code is three letters: front head, shell type, rear head. Seven codes appear in this guide.

The TEMA letter system is a three-letter code that names the front head, the shell type, and the rear head of every shell and tube exchanger. The Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association maintains the system as the industry standard. The letters that appear in this guide break down by position.

Figure 6. TEMA configuration code structure. How the front-head, shell-type and rear-head letters combine, with the seven codes used in this guide.

Front head, two letters:

A, removable channel cover, bolted to the channel through a flange and gasket
B, welded bonnet, integral to the channel

Shell type, two letters:

E, single-pass shell, the standard for most configurations
K, kettle reboiler shell with vapour space, paired with U-tube bundles in kettle reboilers

Rear head, four letters:

M, fixed tubesheet with a bolted bonnet
N, fixed tubesheet with a removable cover
U, U-tube bundle
W, externally sealed floating tubesheet

Seven codes appear in this guide. Each one combines a front-head letter, a shell letter, and a rear-head letter:

BEM, AEN, BEU, AEU, BEW, AEW, BKU

The configuration sections that follow walk through each code.

The three questions that drive the choice

In short. Fouling, cleaning access, and pressure drop. Answer all three and you are left with a shortlist from the four-family set. The fouling matrix below is the fastest route to a recommendation.

Configuration selection for a shell and tube heat exchanger turns on three questions about the service:

how fouling is each fluid
what cleaning the unit requires
how much tube-side pressure drop is acceptable

The answers leave a shortlist of suitable configurations from the four-family set. The fouling assessment table later in this section shows how the trade-off plays out.

The fouling assessment table

The fouling assessment table maps tube-side and shell-side fouling levels to the TEMA configurations that suit each combination.

Fouling Level	Shell Low	Shell Med	Shell High
Tubes Low	BEU	BEU or BEM	BEU or BEW
Tubes Med	BEU or BEM	BEU or BEM	BEU or BEW
Tubes High	BEM or AEN	BEM or AEN or BEW or AEW	BEW or AEW

Three observations follow:

BEU dominates the clean and moderate-fouling cells, because it accommodates thermal expansion at a lower cost than a floating head
Floating head configurations (BEW, AEW) become necessary when both fluids foul heavily, because no other configuration supports mechanical cleaning on both sides
Fixed tubesheet configurations (BEM, AEN) appear where tube-side fouling is high but shell-side fouling is low, because they support tube-interior cleaning while the bundle stays welded to the shell

The cleaning access and pressure drop questions then refine the shortlist. Where the table above leaves more than one configuration, the cleaning access answers narrow the choice further. The cost hierarchy in the configuration summary tables then settles the call between near-equivalent options.

Fouling is the build-up of deposits on the heat transfer surface during operation. The deposits cut heat transfer efficiency and eventually trigger a cleaning shutdown. Fouling rates depend on three factors:

fluid chemistry, where clean water fouls less than hydrocarbons or slurries
fluid temperature, since some fluids will ‘bake on’ deposits to hot surfaces
flow velocity, since at low flow velocites, surface fouling may build up quicker than otherwise

For configuration selection, engineers rate each fluid as Low, Med, or High fouling, separately on the tube side and on the shell side. The two ratings together drive the configuration choice.

Cleaning need is the physical access the cleaning method needs from the exchanger. The cleaning and maintenance access section covers the four cleaning methods in detail. For configuration selection, two access questions matter:

does the tube interior need periodic mechanical cleaning (rodding, pigging, brushing, or hydroblasting)
does the shell side need periodic mechanical cleaning (hydroblasting the shell interior and the bundle exterior)

A “yes” on the tube interior rules out U-tube configurations (BEU, AEU). A “yes” on the shell side rules out fixed tubesheet configurations (BEM, AEN).

Tube-side pressure drop is the loss of fluid pressure as the tube-side fluid passes through the bundle. Engineers size the bundle to keep the pressure drop within the service pumping budget. Configuration choice affects pressure drop through the minimum tube-pass count:

single-pass tube-side hydraulics need straight tubes from one tubesheet to the other
U-tube configurations carry a minimum of two tube passes by geometry, one forward through the bundle and one back through the U-bend

A service that demands the lowest possible tube-side pressure drop favours single-pass configurations. The single-pass configurations are:

The U-tube configurations (BEU, AEU) stay valid when the pressure drop budget allows two passes.

Kettle reboilers as a separate decision branch

A kettle reboiler (BKU) is a phase-change exchanger that is not included in the fouling assessment, because its service involves boiling or vaporising rather than the sensible-heat duties the table covers. If the service involves boiling or vaporising a shell-side fluid, a kettle is the right family. The fouling assessment does not apply. The kettle reboilers section covers the kettle reboiler decision in detail.

Cleaning and maintenance access

In short. Cleaning access is the primary decision axis. Four methods exist, each makes a specific demand on the exchanger geometry, and the wrong configuration makes the method the service needs impossible.

Cleaning access is the primary decision axis in configuration choice. Each cleaning method makes a specific physical demand on the exchanger, and the configuration must match the demand. Choose the wrong configuration and the cleaning method the service needs becomes impossible to apply.

Engineers clean shell and tube exchangers using three methods:

hydroblasting
chemical cleaning
mechanical tube cleaning

Why cleaning access drives the configuration choice

Cleaning access drives configuration choice because each cleaning method needs a specific exchanger geometry. The four methods map onto the configurations as follows.

Cleaning method	Configurations that support it
Hydroblasting, tube interior	BEM (with pipework disconnect), AEN, BEW, AEW
Hydroblasting, shell side	BEU, AEU, BEW, AEW (any removable-bundle configuration)
Chemical cleaning, all	All seven (BEM, AEN, BEU, AEU, BEW, AEW, BKU)
Mechanical tube cleaning	BEM (with pipework disconnect), AEN, BEW, AEW. Straight-tube configurations only.
Online cleaning	All seven, with system add-ons

Three selection rules follow from the table:

a service that needs mechanical tube cleaning rules out BEU and AEU
a service that needs shell-side mechanical cleaning rules out BEM and AEN
a service that needs both rules the design into floating head BEW or AEW

These three rules sit at the heart of the configuration choice and reappear in the configuration sections below.

The four cleaning methods in detail

Hydroblasting is a high-pressure water-jet cleaning method that removes deposits by mechanical impact at the wetted surface. The water pressure typically runs in the range of 10,000 to 40,000 psi. Hydroblasting cleans both straight tubes and shell-side surfaces, as long as the operator can reach them with a lance or rotating head.

Hydroblasting needs a clear path to the surface being cleaned. Two access conditions matter:

on the tube interior, the tubes must run straight from one tubesheet to the other
on the shell side, the bundle must come out of the shell so the lance can reach the shell interior

A practical third condition is workspace alongside the exchanger that takes the lance length and the operator.

U-bends on the tube interior block hydroblasting because a lance cannot reach inside the bend. A fixed bundle on the shell side also blocks hydroblasting because the bundle prevents line-of-sight access to the shell interior.

Chemical cleaning, also known as clean-in-place (CIP), is a solvent-based cleaning method that dissolves deposits without mechanical contact. Operators isolate the exchanger, fill it with a cleaning solution suited to the deposit, circulate the solution for a defined period, then drain and flush the unit. Acid-based solutions remove scale and metallic oxide deposits. Caustic-based solutions remove biological and organic matter.

Chemical cleaning is the only practical method for cleaning U-bend tube interiors. It works on any configuration, as long as the exchanger can be isolated and the cleaning chemistry suits the materials of construction.

Three operational considerations apply to chemical cleaning:

the cleaning chemistry must suit every wetted material in the exchanger
operators must dispose of the spent cleaning solution safely
operators must flush and test the unit before returning it to service

Mechanical tube cleaning is a contact-based cleaning method that removes tube-interior deposits with physical tools. The technique applies to straight tubes only. U-bends block every form of mechanical tube cleaning that needs the tool to travel the full tube length.

Engineers use three tools for mechanical tube cleaning:

rodding with a manual or motorised rod fitted with a scraper head
pigging with a projectile fired through each tube by water pressure
brushing with a rotating wire brush drawn through each tube on a motorised reel

All three tools need the same geometry: straight tubes from one tubesheet to the other.

Online cleaning is a continuous cleaning method that runs during normal operation, without isolating the exchanger. Online systems take three common forms:

continuous circulation of cleaning balls, either sponge or brush
magnetic or chemical dosing systems
ultrasonic cleaning rigs

Online cleaning works with most configurations, but it adds equipment at three points:

the exchanger inlet
the exchanger outlet
the bypass loop, where used

Online cleaning is rarely the only cleaning method on a unit. It extends the interval between full shutdown cleanings rather than replacing them. Heavy fouling or hard-to-remove deposit chemistry usually still needs a periodic shutdown clean.

Fixed tubesheet exchangers (BEM and AEN)

In short. Both tubesheets are welded to the shell, so the bundle is part of the pressure envelope. Simplest and cheapest construction. Right for clean, non-fouling services with modest temperature differential.

A fixed tubesheet exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger with both tubesheets welded directly to the shell. The bundle is part of the pressure envelope, not a removable assembly. That construction is usually the simplest and cheapest way to build a shell and tube heat exchanger.

It is the right answer when:

both fluids are clean and non-fouling
the temperature differential between shell and tubes is modest
bundle replacement is unlikely during the design life

Figure 2. Fixed tubesheet exchanger, BEM variant. Both tubesheets welded to the shell.

Two configurations from the calculator fall in this family: BEM and AEN. They share the same fixed-bundle construction and differ only in how you reach the tube interior for inspection or cleaning.

Fixed tubesheet with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEM)

BEM is a TEMA configuration code for a fixed tubesheet exchanger that combines:

removable front and rear bonnets
a single-pass shell
a fixed tubesheet at the rear

The bonnet head bolts to the tubesheet but cannot come off without breaking the pipework connections. Tube-interior access takes three actions:

disconnect the inlet and outlet pipework
unbolt the bonnet
lift the head clear

That intervention is acceptable in services where it only has to happen rarely over the design life.

Choose BEM when

both fluids run clean. The tube interior and the shell side stay reasonably clean over the design life.
frequent tube-interior cleaning is not part of the maintenance plan.
the temperature differential between shell and tube fluids stays within the limit the tubesheet-to-shell weld can absorb. Industry guidance gives a representative threshold of around 50 degC. Above 50 degC the design needs an expansion bellows in the shell or a different configuration.
capital cost is the primary constraint and the service allows it.

Avoid BEM when

either fluid will foul during operation.
the shell side will need periodic mechanical cleaning. A fixed bundle blocks shell-side access.
the temperature differential will exceed 50 degC and bellows failure is a serviceability risk in remote or high-vibration locations.
tube bundle replacement may be needed during the design life. Replacing the bundle on a BEM unit means scrapping the whole exchanger.

Fixed tubesheet with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEN)

AEN is a TEMA configuration code for a fixed tubesheet exchanger with a removable A-type channel cover at the front, secured by a flange and gasket. The cover unbolts to expose the front face of the tubesheet, so the tube interior opens for cleaning without disconnecting the pipework or cutting any joint. A maintenance team can rod or pig the tubes in place.

For the engineer specifying the unit, AEN opens a route to tube-interior cleaning without the disruption of a full disassembly. Useful when the tube-side fluid fouls moderately and periodic cleaning is part of the plan, but the shell side stays clean and the bundle does not need to come out.

Choose AEN when

the tube-side fluid is moderate fouling. Tube-interior mechanical cleaning is expected during the design life.
the shell side is clean. No need to reach the shell interior.
tube bundle replacement is unlikely.
the temperature differential stays within the same 50 degC threshold described for BEM.

Avoid AEN when

the shell side will foul. The fixed bundle blocks shell-side access.
the service justifies the cost of a removable bundle (U-tube or floating head).

The fixed tubesheet family includes three common mechanical sub-variants:

Single-pass. One tube-side flow through the bundle. The simplest hydraulic arrangement. Used when tube-side velocity or pressure drop drives the design.
Multi-pass. A pass partition plate in the channel directs the tube-side fluid back and forth across the bundle, typically in even numbers of passes from two through eight. Higher velocity at the same flow rate improves heat transfer and reduces fouling on the tube side. Pressure drop rises with the number of passes. The pass count matches the available pumping head and the velocity target.
High-pressure. Used where design pressure approaches or exceeds the standard mechanical envelope. Three components get higher-class construction with confined gasket joints and reinforced flange connections: the tubesheet, the channel, and the shell. TEMA Class R covers this construction band for petroleum service. Other industries that need high-pressure ratings can specify equivalent construction under Class R.

Configuration summary table: fixed tubesheet

The fixed tubesheet summary table compares BEM and AEN attribute by attribute.

Attribute	BEM	AEN
Tube interior cleaning	Pipework disconnect required	In-place via removable cover
Shell-side cleaning	Shell -side can only be cleaned by flushing or chemical cleaning	Shell -side can only be cleaned by flushing or chemical cleaning
Bundle replacement	Not without scrapping the unit	Not without scrapping the unit
Thermal expansion limit	Bellows-free up to a representative 50 degC differential	Same as BEM
Relative cost	Generally lower cost than BEW	Generally lower cost than BEW plus removable-cover premium
Typical services	Clean water cooling, light hydrocarbon services, utility duties with low temperature differential	Same as BEM, where tube-interior fouling is expected

Britannia Jahco designs, fabricates, installs, and hydrostatically tests fixed tubesheet heat exchangers. Talk to the team about a fixed tubesheet exchanger for your service.

Project example. Britannia Jahco fabricated a fixed tubesheet AES unit for the Exxon KMR project, an example of the company fixed tubesheet capability in oil and gas service.

U-tube exchangers (BEU and AEU)

In short. Tubes are bent into a U at the rear, fixed at one tubesheet only. The bundle pulls out for shell-side cleaning, but the U-bends block mechanical tube-interior cleaning. No thermal expansion limit.

A U-tube exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger with a single tubesheet and tubes bent into a U-shape at the rear. Each tube fixes only at the front tubesheet. The U-bend at the rear is unconstrained, so the bundle expands and contracts axially without stressing the tubesheet-to-shell joint. That construction removes the temperature-differential limit that constrains fixed tubesheet designs.

The bundle is removable. Pull the front tubesheet and the entire bundle slides out of the shell, opening the shell side for mechanical cleaning. The trade-off is on the tube interior. The U-bends prevent mechanical rodding or pigging, so internal cleaning of the tubes is restricted to chemical methods or high-velocity flushing.

Figure 3. U-tube exchanger, BEU variant. U-shaped bundle anchored at one tubesheet.

Two configurations from the calculator apply: BEU and AEU.

U-tube with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEU)

BEU is a TEMA configuration code for a U-tube exchanger that combines:

a removable bolted bonnet
a single-pass shell
a removable U-tube bundle

To reach the tube ends or to remove the bundle, the operator unbolts the front bonnet and disconnects the pipework. Mechanical tools cannot reach the U-bends at the rear under any access scenario.

Choose BEU when

the shell-side fluid is moderate or heavy fouling. The tube-side fluid is clean.
thermal expansion is significant. The U-bundle accommodates differential expansion without bellows.
bundle removal for shell-side mechanical cleaning is expected.
cost is a constraint and the tube-side fluid never needs internal mechanical cleaning.

Avoid BEU when

the tube-side fluid fouls and will need mechanical cleaning. U-bends block rodding and pigging.
tube-side pressure drop must be minimised. BEU runs a minimum of two tube passes by geometry, one pass forward and one pass back through the U-bend. Single-pass tube-side hydraulics are not available in a U-tube design.

U-tube with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEU)

AEU is a TEMA configuration code for a U-tube exchanger with a removable A-type channel cover at the front. The cover unbolts to expose the front face of the U-tube bundle without disconnecting the pipework, which makes three front-end activities possible:

inspection of the open tube ends
plugging of individual leaking tubes
chemical injection for in-place cleaning

Mechanical cleaning cannot reach the U-bends at the rear, the same constraint that applies to BEU. AEU is recommended when a U-tube design fits the service and routine front-end access is needed but full bundle removal is rare.

Choose AEU when

the service fits a U-tube. Shell-side fouling, significant thermal expansion.
the maintenance plan includes periodic front-end inspection or selective tube plugging.
the pipework run prevents quick disconnection. The removable cover avoids touching the pipework.

Avoid AEU when

tube-interior mechanical cleaning is required. AEU does not solve the U-bend cleaning constraint.
cost sensitivity is severe. AEU carries a small premium over BEU for the removable cover.

The U-tube family includes three common variants:

Standard. General industrial duty. Mild steel or stainless tubes. Bend radius set to three times the tube diameter as the TEMA minimum, to prevent tube-wall thinning beyond the design code allowance at the bend. Most clients fall here.
High-temperature. For services with shell or tube temperatures beyond conventional carbon steel limits. Tube material selected for the temperature range. Bend geometry reviewed to confirm the tube wall thickness post-bend exceeds the design code minimum.
Cryogenic. For low-temperature duties, primarily refrigeration and gas processing services. Material selection follows the code requirements for low-temperature service. Insulation and corrosion-under-insulation considerations are part of the specification.

Configuration summary table: U-tube

The U-tube summary table compares BEU and AEU attribute by attribute.

Attribute	BEU	AEU
Tube interior cleaning	Pipework disconnect for front access. U-bends not mechanically cleanable.	In-place front access. U-bends not mechanically cleanable.
Shell-side cleaning	Bundle removable, full shell access	Bundle removable, full shell access
Bundle replacement	Bundle can be pulled and replaced	Bundle can be pulled and replaced
Thermal expansion	Accommodated by the U-bend, unlimited within material limits	Same as BEU
Tube passes	Minimum two by geometry	Minimum two by geometry
Relative cost	Generally lower cost than fixed tubesheet option	Generally lower cost than fixed tubesheet option plus removable cover premium
Typical services	Refrigeration evaporators, condenser duties, high-pressure steam, light hydrocarbon services	As BEU, where regular front-end inspection is expected

Britannia Jahco designs, fabricates, installs, and tests U-tube heat exchangers. Talk to the team about a U-tube exchanger for your service.

Project example. Britannia Jahco built a BEU exchanger for Supagas in a CO2 and water service, fabricated in stainless steel 316, an example of the company U-tube capability.

Floating head exchangers (BEW and AEW)

In short. One tubesheet fixed, one free to move axially inside the shell. The only configuration that supports mechanical cleaning on both sides. Cost premium around 25 percent over fixed tubesheet.

A floating head exchanger is a shell and tube heat exchanger with one fixed tubesheet and one tubesheet free to move axially inside the shell. A packed gland or an internal cover seals the floating end against the shell. The construction accommodates thermal expansion without U-bends and gives complete access to both the tube interior and the shell side once the bundle is removed.

Figure 4. Floating head exchanger, BEW variant. Rear tubesheet floating, sealed by an external gland.

This is the configuration to choose when both fluids foul. Three maintenance actions become possible:

pull the bundle out of the shell
mechanically clean the tube interior with straight-tube rodding or pigging
mechanically clean the shell side and the bundle exterior with hydroblasting

No other shell and tube configuration supports both cleaning paths.

The trade-off is cost. Floating head construction adds machined components and a sealed joint that a fixed tubesheet or U-tube design does not have. Industry references put the cost premium over fixed tubesheet construction at around 25 percent, with the exchanger size and the pressure class as the main variables.

Two configurations from the calculator apply: BEW and AEW.

Floating head with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEW)

BEW is a TEMA configuration code for a floating head exchanger that combines:

a removable bolted front bonnet
a single-pass shell
a W-type externally sealed floating head at the rear

To reach the front of the bundle, the operator unbolts the front bonnet from the channel with the pipework disconnected. The rear floating head allows the bundle to move axially as the tubes heat or cool.

Choose BEW when

both fluids foul. Mechanical cleaning is required on both sides over the design life.
thermal expansion is significant.
bundle replacement during the design life is a real possibility.

Avoid BEW when

both fluids are clean. The cost premium is not justified.
the service fits a U-tube and the tube-side fluid is clean. BEU or AEU will be cheaper.

Floating head with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEW)

AEW is a TEMA configuration code for a floating head exchanger with a removable A-type channel cover at the front and a W-type externally sealed floating head at the rear. AEW is recommended when both fluids foul and routine front-end access is needed without committing to a full pipework disconnect.

Choose AEW when

both fluids foul.
front-end inspection or chemical cleaning is part of the maintenance plan between full bundle pulls.
the pipework run makes full disconnection slow or expensive.

Avoid AEW when

both fluids are clean.
routine front-end access is not part of the plan, and BEW delivers the same service for less.

The floating head family includes three common mechanical variants of the floating-head joint:

Pull-through. The floating-head cover is sized so the entire bundle can be pulled out through the shell without disassembling the floating-head joint. Maintenance is straightforward but the shell diameter is larger than a comparable split-ring design.
Split-ring. A split ring secures the floating-head cover to the floating tubesheet. The bundle is pulled by removing the cover first. Smaller shell diameter than pull-through, with a more involved disassembly sequence.
Outside-packed. An externally sealed joint at the floating end. Lower pressure rating than split-ring or pull-through, but mechanically simple. Suitable for non-hazardous services within the rated pressure.

Configuration summary table: floating head

The floating head summary table compares BEW and AEW attribute by attribute.

Attribute	BEW	AEW
Tube interior cleaning	Pipework disconnect for front access. Straight tubes, mechanical cleaning supported.	In-place front access. Straight tubes, mechanical cleaning supported.
Shell-side cleaning	Bundle removable, full shell access	Bundle removable, full shell access
Bundle replacement	Bundle can be pulled and replaced	Bundle can be pulled and replaced
Thermal expansion	Accommodated by the floating head	Accommodated by the floating head
Relative cost	Highest in the four-configuration set. Around 25 percent above fixed tubesheet per industry references.	Slightly above BEW for the removable cover.
Typical services	Oil and gas processing, chemical processing, marine cooling, mineral processing where both sides foul	As BEW, where regular front-end inspection is expected

Britannia Jahco designs, fabricates, installs, and tests floating head heat exchangers. Talk to the team about a floating head exchanger for your service.

Kettle reboilers (BKU)

In short. A specialised exchanger built for boiling or vaporising a shell-side fluid. The oversized shell creates a vapour space. Selection sits outside the fouling matrix.

A kettle reboiler is a specialised shell and tube exchanger built for boiling or vaporising a process fluid on the shell side. The shell is oversized compared to the bundle, often 50 to 70 percent larger in diameter, to create a free vapour space above the liquid pool. The process runs in three stages:

saturated liquid enters the shell
the liquid contacts the heated bundle and vaporises
the vapour disengages at the top of the shell and exits

A weir inside the shell maintains the liquid level so the bundle stays submerged.

Figure 5. Kettle reboiler, BKU variant. Oversized shell with a vapour space above a submerged U-tube bundle.

Kettle reboiler selection sits outside the fouling assessment. If the service involves boiling or vaporisation, a kettle is the right family. The fouling questions that drive the choice between BEM, AEN, BEU, AEU, BEW, and AEW do not apply in the same way to a kettle.

When to specify a kettle reboiler

A kettle reboiler is the right configuration when the service requires shell-side phase change with dry vapour exit. Three conditions point to a kettle:

the service is partial or total vaporisation of a shell-side liquid
a constant liquid level over the bundle is required for thermal control
the vapour generated must be dry, so the oversized shell can let entrainment droplets settle out before the vapour leaves the unit

Typical kettle services include:

distillation column reboilers
refrigeration evaporators
flooded chillers
feed vaporisers

When to choose something else

A non-kettle configuration is preferred when the service does not require shell-side phase change or vapour-disengaging space. Three triggers route the design elsewhere:

the service is sensible heating or cooling without phase change. A standard shell and tube configuration without vapour-disengaging space is more compact and cheaper.
floor space is constrained. The oversized shell of a kettle reboiler has a larger physical footprint than an equivalent-duty unit without vapour-disengaging space.
a thermosyphon reboiler is feasible. Thermosyphon arrangements use the density difference between liquid and a two-phase mixture to drive flow through a standard shell and tube exchanger, which avoids the kettle geometry entirely.

The kettle reboiler family includes three common arrangements:

Horizontal kettle reboiler. The most common arrangement. Bundle horizontal, vapour space above. Standard for column reboilers in chemical and petrochemical service.
Vertical kettle reboiler. Bundle vertical. Used where plot space is limited or where the process favours vertical orientation.
Thermosyphon reboiler. Not strictly a kettle. A standard shell and tube exchanger configured as part of a thermosyphon loop with a process column. Included here because a thermosyphon may be the right answer when the service is boiling and footprint or fluid mechanics rule out a kettle.

Configuration summary table: kettle reboiler

The kettle reboiler summary table lists the attributes of BKU.

Attribute	BKU
Tube interior cleaning	Bundle removable. U-tubes typically used. U-bends not mechanically cleanable on the tube interior.
Shell-side cleaning	Bundle removable, full shell access including the vapour space
Vapour quality	Oversized shell gives a vapour-disengaging space, supports dry vapour exit
Thermal expansion	Accommodated by the U-bundle
Relative cost	Specialised geometry. Cost depends heavily on size and pressure class.
Typical services	Distillation column reboilers, refrigerant evaporators, flooded chillers, partial vaporisation duties

Britannia Jahco designs, fabricates, installs, and tests kettle reboilers. Talk to the team about a kettle reboiler for your service.

Materials and when each one is right

In short. Material selection is the trade-off between capital cost and resistance to corrosion, erosion, and fouling. Australian work adds chloride exposure on coastal sites and high-purity service in regulated fabrication.

Material selection for a shell and tube heat exchanger is the trade-off between capital cost and three forms of long-term resistance:

resistance to corrosion
resistance to erosion
resistance to fouling

The right choice depends on the chemical composition and temperature of both fluids, the design pressure and its wall-thickness implications, and the maintenance cycle the client is willing to fund. Australian work adds two specific drivers: chloride exposure on coastal and offshore sites, and high-purity service in regulated food and pharmaceutical fabrication.

Materials selection table

The materials selection table summarises common heat exchanger materials side by side.

Material	Typical service	Relative cost
Carbon steel	Clean water, steam, non-corrosive light hydrocarbons	Baseline (1)
Stainless steel (304, 316)	Sanitary, hygienic, moderately corrosive process service	3 to 5 times carbon steel
Duplex stainless steel (2205, 2507)	Chloride-containing brines, seawater cooling, high-pressure oilfield duties	5 to 8 times carbon steel
Titanium (grades 1 and 2)	Seawater at elevated temperature, halide acids, severe corrosion service	10 to 15 times carbon steel
Nickel alloys (Hastelloy, Inconel, Monel)	Mineral acids, aggressive chemical service, high-temperature combustion duties	12 to 20 times carbon steel

Source: ASTM material specifications, AS 1548 (steels for boilers and pressure vessels), ASM Handbook Volume 13 (Corrosion). Cost bands are indicative orders of magnitude, not Britannia Jahco prices.

Material-by-material detail

Carbon steel is a low-alloy ferrous material used as the baseline construction material for non-corrosive shell and tube duties. It offers three properties that justify its place as the baseline:

high strength relative to cost
good weldability
the lowest material cost of any heat exchanger metal

Australian pressure vessel work uses grades specified under AS 1548.

Choose carbon steel when:

both fluids are non-corrosive and non-aggressive
the design temperature stays within the limits set by the chosen grade, typically below 425 degC
corrosion allowance plus thinning tolerance can be added without prohibitive cost

Avoid carbon steel when:

either fluid contains chlorides, acids, or oxygenated water in significant concentration
the service is in coastal or offshore Australian conditions with salt-laden atmospheres on the shell side
the application demands sanitary or food-grade construction

Stainless steel is a chromium-nickel alloy class with strong resistance to oxidation and moderate chemical attack. Grade 304 contains around 18 percent chromium and 8 percent nickel. Grade 316 adds 2 to 3 percent molybdenum, which extends resistance to chlorides at low concentration and to mild acids. Stainless is the standard choice for sanitary work and for process service more aggressive than carbon steel can handle but not aggressive enough to justify a specialty alloy.

Choose stainless steel when:

the service is sanitary or hygienic (food, beverage, dairy, pharmaceutical)
the fluid is moderately corrosive with low chloride concentration
the product must not be contaminated by iron pickup from a carbon-steel surface

Avoid stainless steel when:

chloride concentration is high. 304 and 316 are vulnerable to chloride stress corrosion cracking under tension and elevated temperature.
the service involves reducing acids at elevated temperature, where specialty alloys handle the service better.

Duplex stainless steel is a two-phase austenitic-ferritic alloy with higher chromium and lower nickel than 304 or 316, plus an addition of molybdenum and nitrogen. The dual-phase microstructure gives roughly twice the yield strength of 316 at comparable temperatures and markedly higher resistance to chloride stress corrosion cracking. Duplex is the working baseline for seawater service and for chloride-containing oilfield brines in Australian offshore and coastal work.

Choose duplex when:

the service is seawater cooling, brackish water, or chloride-containing process brine
design pressure is high and the strength advantage allows a thinner wall
316 stainless is vulnerable to stress corrosion cracking at the design temperature

Avoid duplex when:

the service is non-corrosive and the cost premium over 316 is not earned
the design temperature exceeds the duplex range, typically above 300 degC, where the alloy loses ductility

Titanium is a reactive metal that forms a tightly bound oxide layer giving near-immunity to chloride and seawater corrosion under most service conditions. Grade 1 is unalloyed and lower-strength. Grade 2 is the most common commercial grade for heat exchanger work, with higher strength while retaining excellent formability. Titanium is the answer when chloride attack rules out duplex and the service justifies the cost.

Choose titanium when:

the service is seawater at elevated temperature, where duplex would still corrode
the fluid contains aggressive halide acids, including hydrochloric and hydrofluoric below moderate concentration
the corrosion allowance for a lower alloy would be impractical

Avoid titanium when:

the service involves dry chlorine, red fuming nitric acid, or hydrogen-bearing fluids that can embrittle titanium
cost is the dominant constraint and a lower alloy can carry the service with a manageable allowance

Nickel alloys are a family of high-nickel-content materials engineered for resistance to specific aggressive media or for service at high temperature. Three trade names appear most often in heat exchanger work:

Hastelloy. Nickel-molybdenum-chromium alloys. Used for reducing acids (hydrochloric, sulfuric) and for hot chloride service.
Inconel. Nickel-chromium alloys. Used for oxidising acids and for high-temperature combustion or flue-gas service.
Monel. Nickel-copper alloy. Used for hydrofluoric acid service and for marine service where titanium is not preferred.

Choose nickel alloys when:

the service involves a specific mineral acid or aggressive medium that lower alloys cannot handle
the design temperature exceeds the practical limit of stainless or duplex
the service is high-value and the corrosion-related downtime cost outweighs the alloy premium

Avoid nickel alloys when:

a cheaper alloy with adequate corrosion margin will carry the service
the design pressure and corrosion conditions allow titanium, which is often cheaper for chloride and seawater service

Copper-nickel (90/10 and 70/30) is a separate copper-base alloy class with strong resistance to marine bio-fouling and to seawater corrosion under flowing conditions. It is common in central cooling and lube oil cooler service on marine and offshore work, with cost between stainless and titanium. Worth specifying for seawater service where biofouling resistance is a design driver, particularly in tropical Australian waters.

Cladding is a fabrication technique that bonds a thin layer of an expensive corrosion-resistant alloy to a thicker base of carbon steel. The corrosion-resistant face contacts the aggressive fluid. The carbon steel base carries the pressure load. The technique gives the corrosion resistance of the cladding alloy at a fraction of the cost of solid-alloy construction.

Cladding can be applied to three components:

the tubesheet face
the channel interior
the shell interior

Cladding is appropriate when:

the service is aggressive enough to require titanium, duplex, or a nickel alloy
the design pressure demands a thick wall, where solid-alloy construction would be prohibitively expensive
the wetted area is a small fraction of the pressure envelope (the tubesheet face, the channel interior)

Configuration by application

In short. Industry sectors converge on common configurations because typical fluids, fouling, pressure class, and cleaning regime drive similar trade-offs. Six industry contexts below.

Configuration by application is one of two axes for choosing a shell and tube configuration, complementing the service-based axis covered in Sections 3 to 8. Industry sectors converge on common configurations because four operating characteristics drive similar trade-offs:

typical fluids
fouling characteristics
pressure class
cleaning regime

This section walks through six industry contexts and the configurations that typically suit each.

Configuration-by-application table

The configuration-by-application table maps six industries to the configurations Britannia Jahco typically supplies.

Industry	Typical fluids	Fouling profile	Typical configuration
Oil and gas	Crude, gas condensate, lube oil, glycol, sour service	Both sides foul under design life	Floating head (BEW, AEW), sometimes BEU
Chemical processing	Reactor feed, solvent, acid, alkali, organic stream	Variable, often heavy on one side	Configuration matches fouling pattern. Stainless or specialty alloy.
Power generation	Feedwater, condensing steam, lubricating oil, hydrogen cooling	Clean on closed loops, fouling on cooling water	Fixed tubesheet (BEM, AEN) for feedwater. Floating head for water-side fouling.
HVAC	Chilled water, hot water, glycol, refrigerant	Light to moderate on water circuits	Fixed tubesheet (BEM, AEN). Kettle reboiler (BKU) on flooded chillers.
Hospitals	Domestic hot water, clean steam, chilled water, refrigerant	Light, but hygiene drives specification	Fixed tubesheet (BEM, AEN) for water duties. Sanitary stainless for clean steam.
Food and beverage	Product fluid (milk, juice, wort), CIP solution, hot water, steam	Light, but CIP cycles drive cleaning frequency	Stainless, sanitary fittings. U-tube or floating head.

Industry-by-industry detail

Oil and gas service is a high-pressure, high-fouling shell and tube heat exchanger application that drives floating-head configurations. Multiple fluids foul during the service:

crude
gas condensate
sour service streams
lube oil

Bundle removal for mechanical cleaning is a routine maintenance event.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies floating-head BEW or AEW units for oil and gas service. BEU is an option where the tube-side fluid is clean (typically a coolant) and only the shell side fouls. Pressure class follows the project specification, often TEMA Class R for severe service. Material is typically duplex or a clad alloy for sour service, where wet sulfide attack and chloride exposure are both design drivers.

Chemical processing is a corrosion-driven shell and tube heat exchanger application where material selection dominates configuration choice. Common services include:

reactor feed-effluent service
solvent recovery
acid cooling
reboiler service

Fluids vary from clean process streams to heavy organic fouling. Configuration matches the fouling pattern.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies units in stainless steel or a specialty alloy, with the cleaning regime driving the configuration choice. Configuration falls into three common patterns for chemical service:

clean both sides, no cleaning required: fixed tubesheet BEM or AEN
one side fouls: U-tube BEU or AEU with the fouling fluid on the shell side
both sides foul: floating head BEW or AEW

Pressure class is typically TEMA Class B for chemical service, which allows lighter non-pressure-bearing components in expensive alloys to manage cost.

Power generation is a clean-fluid, high-throughput shell and tube heat exchanger application that typically uses fixed tubesheet construction. Common units include:

feedwater heaters
lube oil coolers
hydrogen coolers on generator service
surface condensers

The closed-loop fluids stay clean. The cooling-water-side fluid is where fouling appears on open-loop systems.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies fixed tubesheet (BEM or AEN) for feedwater and lube oil duties. Where cooling water is the shell-side fluid and biofouling or scale is a concern, a U-tube or floating head moves the cleaning burden to a removable bundle. Common materials are:

carbon steel for closed-loop steam-side duties
stainless steel for hydrogen and lube oil coolers
copper-nickel for cooling water duties

HVAC is a moderate-pressure, moderate-fouling shell and tube heat exchanger application typically built around chilled water, hot water, and refrigerant duties. Common units include:

chillers
condensers
air handler heat exchangers

The water circuits foul lightly. The refrigerant side stays clean.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies fixed tubesheet (BEM or AEN) for chilled water and hot water duties. Kettle reboilers (BKU) feature on flooded chiller designs where the refrigerant boils on the shell side. Material is usually carbon steel or stainless. Pressure class is TEMA Class C for general commercial service.

Hospital service is a moderate-pressure shell and tube heat exchanger application that handles hot water, sanitisation steam, and chilled water duties for the building clinical and ward areas. Common units include:

domestic hot water calorifiers for ward and theatre supply
clean steam generators feeding sterilisers and autoclaves
chilled water exchangers on the HVAC loop
heat recovery exchangers on boiler flue or air-handling exhaust

Hospitals run the same fluid types as HVAC, but the hot water and clean steam duties carry additional hygiene and infection-control requirements that often push the construction toward sanitary stainless on wetted surfaces.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies fixed tubesheet (BEM or AEN) for hot water calorifiers and chilled water duties. Clean steam to sterilisers uses sanitary stainless construction with full material traceability, closer to pharmaceutical practice than HVAC. Pressure class is TEMA Class C for general service. Repair and replacement of calorifier tube bundles is a recurring Britannia Jahco project type in hospital service.

Food and beverage service is a sanitary shell and tube heat exchanger application driven by hygiene and clean-in-place (CIP) cycles rather than process fouling. Typical units handle product-contact duties:

pasteurisation
wort cooling
dairy chilling

In every case the product fluid must remain uncontaminated.

Britannia Jahco typically supplies stainless steel construction designed for repeated CIP cycles, with sanitary fittings and polished interiors. U-tube and floating head are both common, because both allow bundle removal for full mechanical cleaning when CIP is not enough. Carbon steel is out of scope for product-contact service.

How Britannia Jahco engineers build your exchanger

In short. Britannia Jahco is an Australian shell and tube heat exchanger manufacturer covering design, fabrication, testing, and code-compliance certification.

Britannia Jahco is an Australian shell and tube heat exchanger manufacturer that supplies clients in Australia. The capability operates across four functions:

thermal and mechanical design
custom and OEM fabrication
non-destructive testing and pressure testing
code-compliance certification

Each function below links to its dedicated service page.

Thermal and mechanical design

Thermal and mechanical design is the engineering work that turns a client service into a manufacturable shell and tube exchanger specification.

Britannia Jahco uses Aspen Exchanger Design and Rating (EDR) to perform thermal and mechanical sizing on every custom shell and tube heat exchanger we design. Aspen EDR is the industry-standard software for rigorous heat exchanger modelling, built on over 40 years of HTFS research data and aligned to the current ASME BPVC Section VIII and 2023 edition standards that govern our fabrication work.

Britannia Jahco design team works to both the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code Section VIII Division 1 and the Australian Standard AS 1210 for pressure vessel design. AS 1210 is the basis for statutory pressure vessel registration in every Australian jurisdiction. Mechanical design covers three areas:

thermal sizing, covering heat transfer area, tube count, and shell diameter
mechanical sizing, covering pressure rating, tube wall, tubesheet thickness, and shell wall
vibration analysis, for tube bundles in high-velocity service, with no-tube-in-window baffle layouts where needed

Custom fabrication

Custom fabrication is the workshop process that builds a designed exchanger from raw material through to a pressure-tested and certified unit. The Britannia Jahco Dandenong South workshop fabricates units from carbon steel through to specialty alloys, sized from compact lube oil coolers up to large process exchangers for oil and gas duties.

Custom fabrication covers three project types:

new-build custom exchangers designed to the client service
replacement bundles for an existing shell, built either to client-supplied drawings or to reverse-engineered drawings Britannia Jahco prepares from the original unit
specialty fabrication, including TEMA Class R high-pressure construction, clad construction (titanium or alloy on a carbon steel base), and sanitary stainless construction for food, pharmaceutical, and hospital service

Non-destructive testing and pressure testing

Non-destructive testing and pressure testing are the inspection steps that confirm an exchanger meets its design specification before it leaves the workshop. Every Britannia Jahco unit ships with full inspection documentation.

The workshop runs four non-destructive testing methods:

eddy current testing, for tube-wall integrity
ultrasonic testing, for weld quality and material thickness
radiographic testing, for weld inspection
magnetic particle testing, for surface and near-surface defect detection

Hydrostatic pressure testing follows the design code, typically 1.3 to 1.5 times design pressure depending on the applicable code. Pneumatic testing applies where hydrostatic testing is not feasible, with the appropriate safety controls.

Code compliance and certification

Code compliance and certification is the documentation process that proves an exchanger meets the standards it claims and that the design and fabrication followed them. Every Britannia Jahco unit carries compliance against four code families:

AS 1210, the Australian standard for pressure vessels and the basis for statutory registration in every Australian jurisdiction
ASME Section VIII Division 1, the international pressure vessel construction code
TEMA Standards, for shell and tube specific mechanical detail and construction class (R, B, or C)
API 660, for petroleum and natural gas industry units

Where the service involves explosive or hazardous atmospheres, units carry the relevant Australian hazardous-area certification (AS/NZS 60079 series). ISO 9001 quality management certification covers the workshop and the documentation process end to end.

Request a quote

Common configuration-selection mistakes Britannia Jahco sees on quote requests

In short. A configuration-selection mistake is an early specification decision that costs more later.

A configuration-selection mistake is a specification decision an engineer or estimator makes early that costs more later. The consequences show up in one of three forms:

poor exchanger performance through the service life
expensive or impossible maintenance cycles
scrapped equipment

Mistake 1: choosing fixed tubesheet for a service that will need shell-side cleaning

A fixed tubesheet exchanger (BEM or AEN) is the cheapest configuration to build, which makes it the easy choice when capital cost drives the specification. The catch shows up at the first cleaning shutdown. If the shell side fouls, no maintenance method can open the shell around a fixed bundle. The unit then runs at reduced efficiency until the fouling becomes intolerable, or someone takes a saw to the welds and scraps the unit.

The fix is to check the shell-side fouling potential at the specification stage. If the shell-side fluid carries scale, biofouling potential, or particulate, the configuration should step up to a removable-bundle design (BEU, AEU, BEW, or AEW).

Mistake 2: choosing U-tube for a service that will need tube-interior cleaning

A U-tube exchanger (BEU or AEU) is a removable-bundle configuration that accommodates thermal expansion well and opens the shell side for mechanical cleaning when the bundle is pulled. Engineers sometimes assume the bundle removal also opens the tube interior to mechanical cleaning. It does not. The U-bends prevent every mechanical tube cleaning method that needs the tool to travel the full tube length.

The fix is to ask early whether the tube-side fluid will foul. If yes, the configuration should use straight tubes (fixed tubesheet or floating head), not U-tubes. Chemical cleaning (CIP) can extend a U-tube life on the tube side, but it cannot fully substitute for mechanical cleaning when fouling is heavy.

Mistake 3: overspecifying floating head for a clean-fluid service

A floating head exchanger (BEW or AEW) is the most capable configuration in the four-family set, with mechanical cleaning access on both sides. That capability carries a cost premium of around 25 percent over fixed tubesheet construction. Specifying a floating head for a service where both fluids run clean and the temperature differential is modest pays the premium for capability the service will never use.

The fix is to walk through the fouling and cleaning questions before defaulting to floating head as the “safe” choice. A service the fouling assessment points at BEM or AEN runs reliably through its design life on fixed tubesheet construction. The premium pays back only when fouling actually appears on the shell side over the design life.

FAQ

In short. Frequent questions engineers and procurement teams ask us about shell and tube heat exchanger configuration.

These are frequent questions engineers and the procurement team often ask us about shell and tube heat exchanger configuration.

The difference between BEM and BEU is the rear-head construction. BEM uses a fixed tubesheet welded to the shell, so the bundle is permanently part of the shell. BEU uses a U-tube bundle anchored at a single tubesheet, which makes the bundle removable from the shell. The trade-off sits between cost and access. BEM costs less. BEU opens the shell side for mechanical cleaning. See fixed tubesheet exchangers for BEM and U-tube exchangers for BEU.

The cheapest shell and tube heat exchanger configuration is BEM, the fixed tubesheet with welded bonnet ends. The all-welded construction has the fewest precision-machined components and no removable joints to seal. BEM suits clean services where neither fluid fouls during the design life. Any fouling potential on the shell side erodes the saving at the first cleaning shutdown.

A floating head exchanger (BEW or AEW) is the right choice in three cases:

both fluids foul over the design life
bundle replacement is part of the maintenance plan
thermal expansion is too high for a fixed tubesheet to absorb

The cost premium runs around 25 percent over fixed tubesheet construction. The floating head exchangers section covers the floating head configurations.

A U-tube heat exchanger can be mechanically cleaned on the shell side, after the bundle is pulled, but not on the tube interior. The U-bends prevent rods, pigs, and brushes from traversing the full tube length. Chemical cleaning (CIP) is the standard internal cleaning method for U-tube bundles. The U-tube exchangers section covers the U-tube cleaning constraint.

The temperature limit for a fixed tubesheet exchanger is the differential between shell-side and tube-side fluid temperatures that the welded tubesheet joint can absorb without thermal stress damage. Industry guidance gives a representative threshold of around 50 degC differential. Above the threshold, the design must add an expansion bellows in the shell or step up to a U-tube or floating head configuration.

TEMA Class R is a TEMA construction class for severe petroleum and related processing service. Units built to Class R use four construction upgrades over the lower classes:

heavier wall thicknesses
confined gasket joints
reinforced flange connections
bolt patterns suited to high-pressure cycling

Class B applies to chemical process service and Class C applies to general commercial service.

Request a quote

In short. The next step after settling on a configuration is a quote request. Standard quotes turn around in roughly two weeks.

The next step after settling on a configuration is a quote request. The Britannia Jahco engineering team turns standard quotes around in roughly two weeks. Complex specifications take longer.

Three pieces of information get the process started:

the service specification with flows, temperatures, pressures, and fluid types
any drawings you have from the original unit or from preliminary design
the configuration you have in mind, based on this guide or the calculator

Request a quote Call us on +61 3 9580 5599

The Britannia Jahco engineering team are the technical leads on shell and tube heat exchanger projects. Call the team for a configuration discussion before sending a formal quote request. The conversation usually saves time on both sides.

Shell and tube heat exchanger selection guide

Heat exchanger configuration selection

Choose your configuration

How a shell and tube heat exchanger works

TEMA letter glossary

The three questions that drive the choice

The fouling assessment table

Kettle reboilers as a separate decision branch

Cleaning and maintenance access

Why cleaning access drives the configuration choice

The four cleaning methods in detail

Fixed tubesheet exchangers (BEM and AEN)

Fixed tubesheet with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEM)

Fixed tubesheet with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEN)

Configuration summary table: fixed tubesheet

U-tube exchangers (BEU and AEU)

U-tube with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEU)

U-tube with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEU)

Configuration summary table: U-tube

Floating head exchangers (BEW and AEW)

Floating head with bonnet ends (TEMA: BEW)

Floating head with removable channel cover (TEMA: AEW)

Configuration summary table: floating head

Kettle reboilers (BKU)

When to specify a kettle reboiler

When to choose something else

Configuration summary table: kettle reboiler

Materials and when each one is right

Materials selection table

Material-by-material detail

Configuration by application

Configuration-by-application table

Industry-by-industry detail

How Britannia Jahco engineers build your exchanger

Thermal and mechanical design

Custom fabrication

Non-destructive testing and pressure testing

Code compliance and certification

Common configuration-selection mistakes Britannia Jahco sees on quote requests

Mistake 1: choosing fixed tubesheet for a service that will need shell-side cleaning

Mistake 2: choosing U-tube for a service that will need tube-interior cleaning

Mistake 3: overspecifying floating head for a clean-fluid service

FAQ

Request a quote

In this guide

Standards

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