An engineer should never have to treat a sizing number as a black box. This page documents the standards we build to, the materials we work in, and the methodology behind the IPAC and SEP tools.
The tools apply established, published heat-transfer and fluid-mechanics methods — not proprietary shortcuts. The same methods underpin our manual engineering review of every quote.
Heat duty and surface area are evaluated using the log-mean-temperature-difference (LMTD) method with appropriate correction factors, and effectiveness-NTU where flow arrangement requires it. Shell-side coefficients follow the Bell–Delaware framework for shell & tube geometries.
Tube- and shell-side pressure drop is estimated from standard friction-factor correlations for the relevant Reynolds regime, including entrance, exit and bundle-crossing losses, so a sized unit meets both thermal and hydraulic limits.
Moisture-separator and condensate sizing is based on terminal-velocity / droplet-settling criteria for the design flow and pressure, targeting carryover within accepted industry limits.
Every calculator result is a starting point. Before a quote is issued, a DMI engineer validates fouling allowance, materials compatibility, code requirements and mechanical design against your actual conditions.
| Standard | Scope | Application |
|---|---|---|
| ASME Section VIII, Div. 1 | Pressure vessel design & construction | U-stamped exchangers & vessels |
| TEMA (R / C / B) | Shell & tube mechanical standards | Full TEMA range, removable & fixed bundles |
| ISO 9001 | Quality management system | All manufacturing & inspection |
| European PED 2014/68/EU | Pressure equipment directive | Units destined for the EU market |
| China & Korea code stamps | Regional pressure-equipment approval | Export to those markets |
Code applicability depends on service, jurisdiction and customer specification and is confirmed during engineering review.
Selection is driven by temperature, pressure, corrosion and the process fluid — confirmed against your conditions before fabrication.
| Material | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Carbon steel | General industrial, compressed-air cooling |
| Stainless steel | Corrosive / sanitary / higher-temp service |
| Aluminum | Lightweight air-cooled cores & fins |
| Titanium | Aggressive media & seawater service |
Flow in SCFM or mass flow; temperatures in °F or °C; pressure in psig or bar; duty in BTU/hr or kW. State your units in the request — our team confirms conversions.
Clean-surface coefficients with a nominal fouling allowance, steady-state operation, and single-phase service unless otherwise specified. Two-phase and condensing duties are handled by engineering review.
Pulsating flow, severe fouling, cyclic thermal duty, exotic media or tight space envelopes fall outside the quick-size envelope and should go straight to a quote request.
Detailed specifications, reference installations and documentation are available on request as part of a quote.
