TEMA Shell & Tube Nomenclature

API Heat Transfer is a proud member of TEMA - Tubular Exchanger

Manufacturer’s Association. TEMA members set the standards by which
virtually all custom shell & tube heat exchangers are specified and built.
Basco has been a member since the 1950’s, and consequently we have a
complete and comprehensive understanding of the engineering,
manufacturing and testing requirements to meet this world-recognized
standard. While other manufacturers may simply interpret the regulations,
API Basco has the requisite member design and fabrication capabilities to
lead the industry by helping to shape and define those standards for the
long-term benefit of all users.
 TEMA BET Description: Pull through tube bundle
studded internal floating head to tubesheet
joint multi-pass tubeside or single pass with
Applications: Liquid heaters with low
pressure steam on the shell side single
and double shell (gas in shell) compressor
Slip Tube design channel or bonnet tubeside intercoolers on refinery applications
connection pressure range – 75 psi to 300 psi. shellside gas or oil coolers

FLOATING TUBESHEET
GASKET
GASKET

GASKET
FLOATING HEAD COVER
STATIONARY TUBESHEET
FULL FACE
SHELL COVER
METAL GASKET WITH
BOLT HOLES (Optional)

SHELL COVER
BONNET
ASSEMBLY

GASKET

FLOATING FLOATING HEAD COVER

TUBESHEET
FLOATING END DETAIL

Advantages: Limitations:
1. Relatively large annulus around outer tube limit (O.T.L.) 1. No gasket leak detection at floating head and tubesheet.
and shell I.D. permits entrance to the tube bundle with 2. Relatively low thermal efficiency due to large annulus
little resistance. The results are low entrance-exit between outer tube limit (O.T.L.) and shell I.D. (results in low
velocities and pressure loss. shell side heat transfer coefficient).
2. Easily removable tube bundle. 3. Less tubes for any given shell size compared to other types.
3. Tube bundle expands freely with no special provisions
for expansion.

TEMA AES Description: Removable tube bundle, split

clamp-ring floating head multi-pass
tubeside or single pass with Slip Tube design
Applications: Often used in refineries
in shell units up to 600 psi
seal oil coolers up to 600 psi
gas
high pressure
API 660 oil
floating head bolted to split clamp-ring coolers
(requires shell cover larger than shell to
accommodate floating head) pressure range
– 75 psi to 600 psi.

CONFINED GASKETS CLAMP RING (SPLIT)

CONFINED
CHANNEL COVER
GASKET
CONFINED GASKET
STATIONARY TUBESHEET FLOATING TUBESHEET
SHELL FLOATING
FLANGE HEAD COVER
SHELL COVER ASSEMBLY ASSEMBLY
CONFINED
GASKET

CONFINED GASKET
SHELL COVER ASSEMBLY
SHELL PIPE
CLAMP RING (SPLIT) CHANNEL ASSEMBLY
FLOATING HEAD COVER ASSEMBLY
FLOATING TUBESHEET

FLOATING END DETAIL

Advantages: Limitations:
1. Higher efficiency compared to Type BET units because 1. No gasket leak detection at floating head.
of smaller annulus and more tubes per shell size. 2. Floating head and fixed end connection must be unbolted
2. Tube bundle expands freely with no special provisions to remove tube bundle.
for expansion.
TEMA BEP Description: Removable tube bundle, outside
packed floating tubesheet design. Tubesheet
assembly may be of fabricated or forged steel to
Applications: Where lethal or explosive
gasses are involved Where high pressure
is applied only on the tubeside Where
satisfy design pressure requirements tubeside gasket malfunction must be detectable.
fluid is fully gasketed; shellside packing available
in various materials tubeside pressure range –
to 3000 psi. Max 150 psi shellside.

STATIONARY TUBESHEET PACKING RINGS

PACKING GLAND
GASKETS
PACKING GLAND
GASKET

PACKING RINGS
FLOATING
TUBESHEET

SHELL GASKETS
ASSEMBLY FLOATING TUBESHEET ASSEMBLY

Advantages: Limitations:
1. No packing exposed to tubeside fluid. 1. One or two pass configurations only.
2. Compared to BET and BES, outer tube limit (O.T.L.) 2. Shellside pressure up to 150 psi because of packing rings
relatively close to shell I.D. resulting in increased heat at floating tubesheet head.
transfer efficiency. 3. Bundle expands into customer’s piping.
3. No possibility of shell and tubeside fluids intermixing
through packing or gaskets.

TEMA BEM Description: Fixed tubesheet, non-removable

bundle tubesheet welded directly to shell
single or multi-pass design
Applications: Chemical processes high
pressure air and nitrogen chillers (gas in
tubes, freon shellside).

TUBESHEET TUBESHEET

GASKET GASKET
BONNET ASSEMBLY

BONNET FLANGE

SHELL PIPE GASKET

TUBESHEET
ELLIPTICAL HEAD

GASKET JOINT DETAIL

Advantages: Limitations:
1. Economical design. 1. No provisions for differential expansion of tubes and shell
2. No possibility of contamination compared to designs without expansion joint.
with floating head gaskets (except in tube failures). 2. Shell and tubesheet material must be weldable
3. High pressure shellside designs more easily 3. Tube bundle is not removable for cleaning.
accomplished than in floating head types.
4. Extremely efficient shellside heat transfer due to small
annulus between outer tube limit (O.T.I.) and shell I.D.
5. Shell design can be modified for large expansion area
where partial vaporization of liquid occurs.
6. No gasketed joints on shellside.
 TEMA BEU Description: U-tube design with pull through,
removable or non-removable tube bundle
furnished in multi-pass design only
Applications: Chemical processes
suction heater liquid heaters
tank

vaporizers (where partial vaporization of

pressure range – 75 psi to 3000 psi tubeside and liquid occurs).
75 psi to 1500 psi shellside.

TUBESHEET

CONFINED GASKETS “U” TUBES

BONNET ASSEMBLY

BONNET ASSEMBLY SHELL ASSEMBLY

CONFINED GASKETS TUBESHEET

TUBESHEET GASKET DETAIL

Advantages: Limitations:
1. Tubes expand freely without special provisions. 1. Outer tube rows must be removed before replacing inner rows.
2. Single tubesheet minimizes number of tubeside joints. 2. Requires chemical cleaning.
3. Economical construction. 3. May not be advisable for use where tubeside fouling is
4. Highly efficient heat transfer – small annulus between anticipated.
outer tube limit (O.T.L.) and shell I.D.
5. Tube bundle easily removable.

TEMA AEW Description: Removable tube bundle, one or

two-pass design double packed floating
tubesheet with “O” rings and threaded retainer
Applications: Lube oil coolers
water coolers aftercoolers.
jacket

with telltale holes for leak detection shell

sizes from 6"" to 42"" pressure range – 75 psi
to 600 psi.
GASKET TELLTALE HOLES “O”RING RETAINER

GASKET
STATIONARY TUBESHEET “O” RING PACKING

CHANNEL COVER FLOATING TUBESHEET

TELLTALE HOLES “O”RING RETAINER

SHELL FLANGE

SHELL PIPE CHANNEL 3. Leaks easily detected – mixing or contamination of

fluids eliminated.
4. Channel covers and return heads are easily removable
FLOATING TUBESHEET
“O” RING PACKING for bundle inspection and cleaning.
5. Because of full thickness metal of “O” ring retainer,
PACKED END DETAIL
possibility of overtightening bolts and resultant “O” ring
damage is eliminated.
Advantages:
1. Highly efficient heat transfer – small annulus between Limitations:
outer tube limit (O.T.L.) and shell I.D. 1. Should not be used for explosive or lethal fluids where
2. Threaded “O” ring retainer permits tube inspection packing leak cannot be tolerated.
and cleaning without releasing shellside pressure. 2. One or two-pass configuration only.