Heat Exchanger Selection Checklist: 12 Project Data Points to Prepare Before Quotation
A clear quotation starts before the price request. Use this checklist to prepare the technical data Hengxin needs to review the heat exchanger route, size the duty and reduce repeated clarification.
Why Complete Selection Data Matters
A heat exchanger quotation is not only a model selection. It is a technical review of duty, media, temperature program, pressure limits, fouling risk, material choice, installation boundary and the scope around the exchanger.
When the project data is incomplete, the supplier may need to make assumptions. Those assumptions can change the heat-transfer area, pressure drop, gasket or tube material, nozzle size, pump selection and control requirements. A quotation based on unclear assumptions can look fast, but it often creates extra technical confirmation later.
For Hengxin projects, the checklist below helps the engineering team decide whether the suitable route is a gasketed plate heat exchanger, shell-and-tube heat exchanger, spiral threaded tube heat exchanger, vertical floating coil heat exchanger, storage-type heat exchanger or a complete heat exchange station.
12 Project Data Points to Prepare
Send the data in one message or data sheet when possible. If one item is unknown, mark it as unknown instead of leaving it blank, so the engineering team can identify the exact clarification needed.
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Application and duty
Explain the process or building service: district heating, domestic hot water, steam-to-water heating, process cooling, oil heating, heat recovery or replacement of existing equipment.
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Hot-side and cold-side media
List both fluids, including water, steam, condensate, glycol solution, oil, process liquid or any corrosive or dirty medium. Include concentration if the fluid is mixed.
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Inlet and outlet temperatures
Provide design inlet and outlet temperature for both sides. For heating stations, note seasonal supply and return temperatures if they change during operation.
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Flow rate on both sides
Give mass flow or volume flow for each side. If only one side is known, Hengxin can calculate the other side when heat load and temperature difference are clear.
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Heat load or capacity
Provide kW, MW, kcal/h, t/h steam equivalent or another project unit. If the project is a replacement, include the existing model and rated capacity if available.
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Operating and design pressure
List normal working pressure and required design pressure for each side. For steam, include steam pressure and whether it is saturated or superheated.
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Allowable pressure drop
Pressure drop affects exchanger size, plate pattern, tube velocity, pump selection and operating cost. State the maximum pressure drop allowed on each side.
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Water quality and fouling risk
Note hardness, suspended solids, scaling tendency, oil contamination, open-loop water, river water or dirty process media. Fouling risk can change the structure and cleaning plan.
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Material requirements
Confirm plate, tube, shell, gasket or pressure boundary material requirements. If there is a project standard, corrosion condition or food-grade requirement, include it early.
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Installation layout
Share equipment-room dimensions, nozzle orientation, foundation limits, lifting access, maintenance clearance, pipe direction and whether the exchanger must be horizontal or vertical.
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Control and station scope
Define whether the quotation should include only the exchanger or a skid with pumps, valves, dirt separator, instruments, control cabinet and automatic operation.
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Drawings, photos and standards
Attach P&ID, layout drawings, existing equipment photos, nameplate data, flange standard, voltage, certification needs and any local pressure-vessel documentation requirements.
How the Data Affects the Equipment Route
The same heat duty can lead to different equipment routes when media, fouling, pressure, maintenance access or station scope changes. Use the table below as an initial direction before Hengxin confirms the final selection.
| Route | Often considered when | Data that matters most |
|---|---|---|
| Gasketed plate heat exchanger | Compact water-water or liquid-liquid duty with clean media and efficient heat transfer. | Temperature program, pressure drop, gasket compatibility, plate material and cleaning access. |
| Shell-and-tube heat exchanger | Higher pressure, larger diameter, steam or process conditions where a pressure-vessel structure is suitable. | Design pressure, temperature difference, tube material, fouling allowance, maintenance method and code needs. |
| Spiral threaded tube heat exchanger | Steam-water or water-water heating duties where tubular construction and compact heat transfer are both useful. | Steam condition, water flow, pressure drop, tube material, installation space and condensate drainage. |
| Vertical floating coil heat exchanger | Steam-water heating and domestic hot water duties where vertical layout, vibration or anti-scaling behavior is required. | Steam pressure, outlet water temperature, site height, maintenance access and water quality. |
| Storage-type heat exchanger | Domestic hot water or peak-load buffering where storage volume helps stabilize supply. | Peak demand, recovery time, storage volume, coil material, vessel pressure and installation footprint. |
| Complete heat exchange station | Projects that need exchanger, pumps, valves, instruments, control cabinet and integrated skid scope. | System boundary, control logic, pump duty, voltage, communication needs, equipment-room layout and commissioning scope. |
Do Not Treat Station Scope as an Afterthought
Many early quotations compare only the core exchanger price. For a heating station or plant-room package, the surrounding equipment can be just as important as the exchanger itself.
Hydraulic equipment
Circulating pump, make-up pressure pump, dirt separator, headers, valves, strainers and drainage points should match the heat exchanger duty.
Control package
Control valve, temperature sensors, pressure sensors, VFD, PLC cabinet, alarms and remote communication should be defined before skid design.
Installation boundary
Foundation, lifting path, pipe direction, maintenance clearance, power supply, local standards and commissioning responsibility should be clear.
When the project requires a packaged station, send layout drawings and scope notes together with the thermal data. Hengxin can then review whether the request should be priced as a standalone exchanger, skid-mounted unit or intelligent unattended heat exchange system.
How Hengxin Reviews the Data Before Quotation
After receiving the project data, the engineering review normally follows four practical steps. The purpose is to make the quotation easier to compare and reduce hidden assumptions.
Check media, heat load, temperatures and flow rate to confirm the thermal requirement.
Review pressure, pressure drop, fouling, material, installation and documentation requirements.
Compare plate, shell-and-tube, tubular, storage or complete station routes based on the real application.
Clarify scope, model basis, key assumptions and the information still needed for final confirmation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a quotation if some data is missing?
Yes. Send the data you have and mark the missing items clearly. Hengxin can usually tell you which missing values are critical and which can be estimated for an early discussion.
Is heat load enough to select a heat exchanger?
No. Heat load is only one part of selection. Media, inlet and outlet temperatures, flow rate, pressure, pressure drop, fouling risk and material requirements all affect the final model.
Should I ask for a plate exchanger or a shell-and-tube exchanger first?
If you are unsure, send the working conditions instead of choosing the structure first. Hengxin can compare suitable routes and explain which data supports the recommendation.
What should I send for a replacement project?
Send photos, nameplate information, existing drawings, current model, failure reason, connection sizes, available space and the target operating conditions after replacement.
Ready to Review a Heat Exchanger Project?
Use the checklist above and send your project conditions. Hengxin can review the equipment route, required data and quotation scope before model confirmation.