3 replies to this topic

[afd]

We are having finfan coolers which are forced draft in operation. We as operators recently observed that the top of the plenum chamber but below the tube sheet there are openings provided on the sides(10cm*8cm)and three on each side. These are there right from the installation and are wasting the air by bypassing the tubes.

We asked the mechanical about their purpose: they said that it is in the design and are for safety purpose to prevent pressure build up.Another answer was as they r on the periphery they are to remove the dust.Finally, they have sent a message to the vendor to ask the purpose of the opening

My query is do fin fan coolers come with any pressure relief on the air side? Have anyone seen such openings on fin fan coolers?

Afd

[Nirav]

My query is do fin fan coolers come with any pressure relief on the air side? Have anyone seen such openings on fin fan coolers?

Afd

It is strange, if it is so. I have never came across.
How can air side be pressurized? It is open !!!

I'm looking for other's reply.

[gvdlans]

I agree that these holes are not commonly used in air cooled heat exchangers.

The explanation that the holes are there for pressure relief is clearly nonsense. Even if the air flow could be totally blocked (which is extremely unlikely as pointed out by Nirav), the pressure build-up would be very low.

The explanation that the holes are there for dust removal also doesn't look very convincing.

Maybe the maximum cooling duty appeared to be too high (resulting in too low exit temperatures) and therefore someone decided to make the holes so that some of the cooling air bypasses the tube bundles?

Could you explain what service the air coolers are in? In other words, what are you cooling?

[afd]

Thank you for the replies

I have now observed that the openings have been closed on the air side.