ASME VIII‑1, API 661 Air Cooled Heat Exchanger for Oil Refining and Power Industry
Yuhong Group Co., Ltd. is a leading Chinese manufacturer of Heat Exchange Equipment. The company is certified according to ASME, ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 14001:2015, designs and manufactures Air Coolder per API 661 And ASME Section VIII Div. 1, and also supplies Heat Exchangers. Condensers, evaporators, reactors and other products for oil refining, petrochmical and power industries.
Product Description
The Air Coolder (Air Cooled Heat Exhcanger — ACHE), designed and manufactured in accordance with the requirements of API 661 and ASME Section VIII, is a high-efficiency equipment for colling and condensing process fluids and gases using atmospheric air as the cooling medium. This equipment is intended ofr operation in heavy industrial conditions at oil refining, petrochemical, gas processing and thermal power facilities.
The Air Cooler design includes the following main components:
- Tube Bundle — the main Heat Exchange Element.
- Axial Fans — forced or induced air supply.
- Headers — distribution of the process medium through the tubes.
- Structural Framework
- Louvers — for controlling the air flow depending on seasonal temperatures.
Technical Specifications
| Параметр | Значение / Описание |
| Design codes | API 661 (7th Edition, ISO 13706), ASME Section VIII Div. 1 |
| Certification | ASME U Stamp |
| Draft type | Forced Draft or Induced Draft |
| Header type | Plug Type, Removable Cover Plate Type, Manifold Type |
| Tube material | ASME SA179, SA213-TP304/316L, SA789-S31803 (Duplex) |
| Fin material | Aluminum (most common), stainless steel |
| Fin type | «G» Embedded, Knurled «L», Extruded, Wrap-on |
| Header material | ASTM A516 Gr.60 / carbon steel / stainless steel |
| Temperature range | up to -40°C to +600°C |
| Maximum working pressure | up to 450 bar (depending on design) |
| Tube bundle arrangement | Horizontal (most common) or vertical |
Testing and Quality Control
All Air Coolers updergo a set of tests in accordance with ASME Section VIII Div. 1 and API 661:
| Test type | Standard/ Requirement | Description |
| Hydrostatic test | ASME VIII UG-99 | Test pressure: 1.3 × design pressure, Pressure hold for at least 4 hours |
| Pneumatic test | ASME VIII UG-100 | Test pressure: 1.1 × design pressure |
| Leak test | Leak Test | Mandatory inspection of all welded and bolted joints |
| Vibration test | API 661 | Vibration amplitude control, limit not more than 20% of API 661 allowable value |
| Noise test | API 661 Annex E | Sound level measurement according to the standard procedure |
| Third-party inspection | Обязательная | Inspection by an independent inspector (on customer request) |
Note. All quality documentation (MTC) for pressure parts is supplied according to EN 10204 3.1
Advantages of the Air Cooler per API 661 and ASME
- No water consumption. Unlike water cooling systems, the air cooler does not require constant water supply and does not create a risk of water contamination by process media.
- Cost effectiveness. No water treatment or wastewater disposal costs, reduced operating expenses.
- Environmental safety. No discharge of contaminated water and minimal environmental impact.
- High reliability and durability. Design per API 661 ensures resistance to corrosion, erosion and vibration loads.
- Layout flexibility. The equipment can be installed both on ground foundations and on pipe racks.
- Wide material range. Form carbon steel to titanium and duplex alloys, enabling operation with corrosive and high-temperature media.
Design Features
Header Boxes Design Features. Headers of Air Coolers have a rectangular cross-section, which complicates the calculation of minimum wall thickness compared to cylindrical pressure vessels. Yuhong Group performs header calculations using the finite element method (FEA) to confirm structural integrity, in compliance with API 661 and ASME.
Header Thermal Separation. According to API 661, when the temperature difference between the inlet and outlet sections of the header exceeds 110 ℃ (200 ℉), header separation is applied to compensate for thermal deformations.
Air flow control. Adjustable louvers allow adapting the cooling capacity to seasonal changes in ambient temperature.
Applications
Yuhong Group Air Coolers per API 661 and ASME Section VIII Div.1 are widely used in the following industries and processes:
| industry | Typical Application |
| Oil Refineries | Cooling of hydrocarbon streams, condensation of column overhead products, cooling of reactor media |
| Petrochemical Plants | Cooling of reaction products, condensation after reactors, cooling of distillation columns |
| Gas Processing | Condensation of natural gas inquids (NGL) and cooling of gas streams |
| Power Plants | Turbine oil cooling, transformer oil cooling, auxiliary cooling |
| Chemical Industry | Cooling of chemical reactors, condensation in distillation processes |
Note: For oil refining and petrochemical plants, compliance with API 661 is a mandatory requirement for most international EPC contractors.
Types of Air Coolers Available for Order
Yuhong Group manufactures Air Coolers in the following design configurations:
- Forced Draft — fans are located below the tube bundle. Provides easy access to fans for maintenance. Recommended for high-temprerature applications.
- Induced Draft — fans are located above the tube bundle. Provides more uniform air distribution and reduces reciculation of hot air. Most commnon in oil refining.
- Horizontal — tubes are arranged horizontally, air flow perpendicular to tubes. Optimal for cooling large volumes of process media. Features a compact design and ease of maintenance (tube bundle can be easily removed for cleaning).
- Vertical — tubes are arranged vertically. Used when floor space is limited.
- V-Shaped / A-Frame — tubes are arranged in a V shape. Maximum Heat Exchange Area in a compact design. Recommended for high-capacity cooling.
