PDVSA

ENGINEERING DESIGN MANUAL

VOLUME 8
ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA N

TITLE

AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

EC201

DEC.00

GENERAL REVISION

Y. K.

A. A.

E. C.

MAR.87

FOR APPROVAL

24

J.S.

J.G.

A.O.

APPD.

APPD.

REV.

DATE

APPD.BY Alexis Arvalo

E PDVSA, 1983

DESCRIPTION
DATE

DEC. 00

PAG. REV.
APPD.BY Enrique Carmona

DATE

DEC. 00

ESPECIALISTAS

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

PDVSA EC201
REVISION

FECHA

DEC.00

Pgina 1
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FOREWORD
This specification covers the minimum requirements for the design and
fabrication of Air Cooled Heat Exchangers used in the petroleum and
petrochemical industry.
This specification is intended to supplement API Standard 661, Fourth Edition,
November 1997, which is part of this specification. Paragraph numbers of this
specification correspond to those in API 661. Paragraph numbers not found in API
661 are new paragraphs.
Paragraphs shall be highlighted as shown below to indicate the type of change
from the API Standard:
(Addition) New paragraph or supplemental requirements/clarifications to an
existing paragraph.
(Deleted) Paragraph deleted.
(Decision) A decision has been made as required.
(Substitution) Paragraph supersedes API in its entirety.

SCOPE
(Substitution) This specification, together with the Equipment Data Sheet, covers
requirements for the design, materials, fabrication, inspection and testing of
AirCooled Heat Exchangers. Instructions for marking, shipping and the
submission of bids and Manufacturer drawings are also given.

1.2
1.2.1

Conflicting Requirements
(Substitution) In case of conflict between documents, the following order shall
prevail:
The purchase order
The Project specification
PDVSA EC201
API Std. 661

REFERENCED PUBLICATIONS
(Addition) In addition to the latest edition of the Codes and Standards referenced
in the API 661, the following specification shall be considered a part of this
standard:
Petroleos de Venezuela S.A. (PDVSA)
O201

Seleccin y Especificaciones de Aplicacin de Pinturas

Industriales.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

PDVSA EC201
REVISION

FECHA

DEC.00

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American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

A450

5.1

General Requirements for Carbon, Ferritic Alloy and Austenitic

Alloy Steel.

Approval Information

5.1.1

(Addition) o. Headers details showing dimensions, thickness, corrosion

allowances, nozzles reinforced pads, etc.

6.1.1

General Requirements

6.1.1.9

(Substitution) The minimum Thickness of metal used for air seal construction shall
be 3 mm (1/8 in) inside and outside the bundle side frame.

6.1.6.1

General

6.1.6.1.10 (Addition) Horizontal pass partition shall have a 6 mm ( in) orifice for drainage.
6.1.6.1.11 (Addition) For multipasses units, the passes shall be arranged in such a way that
the inlets and outlets are at the same end.
6.1.6.1.12 (Addition) Where bolted joints are required, only through bolts shall be used.
6.1.9

Nozzles and Other Connections

6.1.9.6

(Substitution) Flange dimensions and facing shall be in accordance with ASME

B16.5. The minimum class for flange sizes below 3 inches shall be 300.

6.1.11.2

(Decision) The maximum tube length shall be 10.4 m (34.5 ft) for exchangers to
be installed at ground level and 9 m (30 ft) for those to be mounted on piperacks.

6.1.11.13

(Addition) The maximum design temperature shall be less than:

For Finned Tube Construction Type
Embedded
Integral
Overlapped footed
Footed

C (F)
399 (750)
288 (550)
149 (300)
149 (300)

6.1.11.14

(Addition) Fins heights exceeding 25 mm (1 in) are not allowed.

6.3.1.7

(Addition) All exchangers which a bottom header elevation exceeding 3 m (10

feet) shall have platforms for inspection and service of inlet an outlets nozzles.

7
7.1.8

MATERIALS
(Substitution ) For exchangers installed in marine environment, all structural parts
shall be hotdipped galvanized. Other than marine environment, corrosion
protection for structural steel shall be specified by purchaser.

ENGINEERING SPECIFICATION

PDVSA

AIR COOLED HEAT EXCHANGERS

PDVSA EC201
REVISION

FECHA

DEC.00

Pgina 3
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(Addition) All nozzle pipes shall be seamless ASTM A106 or API 5L.