n Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient (API) plants, heat exchangers play a critical role in various processes. Here are some common types of heat exchangers used, often designed and certified according to standards like ASME Section VIII Div 1 & Div 2, TEMA, API 660, HTRI, and PVElite:

1. Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers:

   • TEMA Types: These include TEMA types like BEM, AES, and others, designed to handle different process fluids and pressures.

   • API 660: This standard specifically applies to shell-and-tube heat exchangers used in petroleum, petrochemical, and pharmaceutical industries.

2. Plate Heat Exchangers:

   • Efficient for pharmaceutical processes due to their compact size and high heat transfer efficiency.

   • ASME Section VIII Div 1 & Div 2: These sections cover the design and construction of plate heat exchangers, ensuring they meet safety and performance standards.

3. Air Cooled Heat Exchangers (ACHE):

   • Used where cooling water availability or contamination risks are concerns.

   • ASME Section VIII Div 1 & Div 2: Standards apply depending on the design and operating conditions.

4. Finned Tube Heat Exchangers:

   • Commonly used for air heating or cooling applications in API plants.

   • ASME Section VIII Div 1 & Div 2: Ensures the design meets pressure vessel requirements.

5. Double Pipe Heat Exchangers:

   • Simple in construction, often used for small-scale processes or where low heat transfer rates are sufficient.

6. Coil Heat Exchangers:

   • Used in applications where a tube bundle may not be practical or for specific fluid handling requirements.

These heat exchangers are designed to meet stringent regulatory requirements and operational conditions typical in API plants, ensuring both efficiency and safety in pharmaceutical production processes. The standards referenced (ASME Section VIII Div 1 & Div 2, TEMA, API 660, HTRI, PVElite) provide guidelines for design, construction, and testing to ensure reliability and compliance with industry standards.