Floating Heat Exchangers

At Harsha Engineers, we manufacture high-quality Floating Head Heat Exchangers designed for maximum efficiency and flexibility in demanding industrial processes. In this design, one end of the tube bundle is fixed while the other end is allowed to “float,” enabling free expansion and contraction of tubes under varying temperature conditions.

This unique feature makes floating head exchangers ideal for high-temperature services, large temperature differences, and applications involving fouling fluids, as the tube bundle can be easily removed for cleaning and maintenance.

Widely used in refineries, chemical plants, petrochemicals, power stations, and process industries, these exchangers ensure durability, easy maintenance, and superior heat transfer performance.

Constructed from stainless steel, mild steel, or special alloys, our floating head exchangers are built to withstand extreme operating conditions while ensuring long service life and consistent output.

Material of Construction (MOC): MS, SS 304, SS 316, Duplex Steel, Titanium, Hastelloy.
Tube Diameter: 6 mm to 50 mm.
Tube Length: Up to 6 meters (custom-built).
Shell Diameter: 100 mm to 2500 mm.
Design Pressure: Up to 70 bar.
Design Temperature: -50°C to +500°C.
Pass Arrangement: Single-pass or multi-pass options.
Standards: ASME, TEMA, GMP-compliant.

In a floating head design, one end of the tube bundle is fixed, while the other end is free (floating) within the shell.
The tube bundle can expand or contract without stress when exposed to large temperature differences.
Fluids flow in a counter-current or cross-flow arrangement: one fluid inside the tubes and the other around the tubes within the shell.
The floating head assembly allows the entire tube bundle to be removed for inspection, cleaning, and maintenance.

Floating Head Heat Exchangers are best suited for critical industrial applications involving high temperatures, pressures, and fouling fluids:

Chemical Processing Plants – Cooling and heating of corrosive or fouling fluids.
Petrochemical & Refineries – Hydrocarbon processing, crude oil heating, and energy recovery.
Power Plants – Boiler feedwater heaters, turbine lube oil coolers, and steam condensers.
Pharmaceutical Industry – Process fluid heating and cooling.
Food & Beverage – Handling viscous liquids and thermal-sensitive products.
Marine & Offshore – Seawater cooling and heavy oil processing.

Handles high thermal expansion without stress-related failures.
Full tube bundle removal allows easy cleaning, maintenance, and inspection.
High reliability for high-pressure and high-temperature operations.
Long service life due to robust construction.
Efficient heat transfer with counter-current flow arrangements.
Suitable for fouling fluids as tubes can be easily accessed.
Customizable designs to meet specific industry standards.

Conclusion

For industries handling fluids with high fouling tendencies or significant temperature differences, the Floating Head Heat Exchanger is a versatile, long-lasting, and simple to maintain option. At Harsha Engineers, we design and manufacture floating head exchangers with precision engineering and high-grade materials, ensuring maximum efficiency, reliability, and long operational life in every application.