Bundle Replacement & Re-Tubes
Altex Industries has been designing, building, and servicing shell & tube heat exchangers for over 20-years. We maintain a large stock of common tubes, plate, and even forgings to ensure quick turnaround on rush and emergency bundle replacement. We are the only exchanger company in Canada capable of bending and heat-treating U-tubes in-house.
Shouldn’t you buy your replacement heat exchanger bundle from a company that actually designs, builds, and services heat exchangers?
Altex Industries has been designing, building, and servicing shell & tube heat exchanger bundles for over 20 years. We know how critical the bundle design is for reliability and meeting performance.
Replacing like-for-like heat exchanger bundles may not be ideal if the existing design is underperforming or you are experiencing excessive fouling or corrosion, and Altex can help redesign the exchanger bundle to resolve these issues.
Your Trusted Partner for Critical Specialty Services
Capabilities:
- Replacement in-kind bundles
- Upgraded heat exchanger bundle metallurgy
- Helixchanger retrofit bundles
- U-bundles
- Floating Head `S’ and `T’ type
- Fixed bundles – AEL, BEM, NEN, etc.
- Clad or weld-overlay
- Anti-fouling or anti-corrosion coatings
- Hairpin
- Rod or strip baffles
- Low-fin tubes
- Tube inserts – twisted tape, HiTran, Matrix, etc.
- Expanded w/ ring-groove, seal-welded, strength-welded
Materials of Construction:
We offer a broad range of metallurgies to suit diverse process conditions, corrosion environments, and mechanical requirements, ensuring long-term performance and reliability.
- Carbon Steel - SA-214, SA-179, SA-192, etc.
- Chrome-Moly - 1/2-Cr, 1-1/4Cr, 2-1/4Cr, 5Cr, 9Cr, 13Cr
- Stainless Steel - 304, 309, 316, 317, 321, 400 series, etc.
- Duplex - S32205, S31803
- Super Duplex - S32750, S32760
- Nickel alloys - Incoloy®, Hastelloy®, Inconel®, C-276, C-22, N06625, N08825, Alloy 59, C2000, etc.
- Clad or overlayed tubesheets with above metallurgies
Design:
All bundle replacement and retube projects are engineered in compliance with industry standards to ensure mechanical integrity, thermal efficiency, and regulatory approval.
- ASME VIII-Div.1
- API 660
- TEMA R, C, B
Canadian CRN Registrations for the New Designs, Alterations, and Repairs:
Our design and fabrication services are registered across all Canadian provinces and territories, meeting CRN requirements for both new and modified pressure equipment.
- Alberta
- British Columbia (BC)
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island (PEI)
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
Ensure the continued performance and reliability of your heat exchangers with Altex’s expert bundle replacement and re-tube services. Reach out today to schedule a consultation and keep your systems running at peak efficiency.
FAQs
What is the difference between a full bundle replacement and a re-tube?
A full bundle replacement involves manufacturing an entirely new tube sheet, baffles, and tubes, whereas a re-tube replaces only the tubes while reusing the existing shell and components. Re-tubing is often more cost-effective if the main structural components remain in good condition.
When should a heat exchanger bundle be replaced instead of repaired?
Replacement is recommended when more than 10-15% of the tubes are plugged or when the tube sheet shows significant corrosion or thinning. Investing in a new bundle ensures long-term reliability and prevents the frequent, costly downtime associated with patching an aging unit.
What are the signs of tube failure in a shell and tube heat exchanger?
Common indicators include cross-contamination of fluids, unexpected pressure drops, and a decrease in thermal efficiency. Rapid changes in the temperature of the outgoing fluid often signal that internal tubes have leaked or failed.
Is it possible to upgrade bundle metallurgy during a replacement?
Yes, a bundle replacement is the ideal time to upgrade to superior metallurgy to handle changes in process fluids or temperatures. This "drop-in" upgrade allows facilities to enhance equipment performance without the capital expense of a complete system overhaul.
How does a replacement bundle improve heat transfer efficiency?
A new bundle eliminates internal fouling and scale buildup that restricts heat flow in old units. It also allows for the integration of modern baffle designs, like helical baffles, which optimize fluid flow and increase the thermal coefficient.
