Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Structural Design

Structural Analysis

AIR-COOLED HEAT EXCHANGER STRUCTURAL DESIGN

Meca Enterprises provides structural engineering services for air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE) support structures used in industrial, energy, and process plant applications. We work with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), fabricators, and engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) firms to ensure that air-cooled heat exchanger frame structural designs meet code requirements and perform reliably in operation, during lifting, and in transit.

Whether your cooler uses vertical or horizontal fans, a forced or induced draft system, is mounted at grade or elevated, has recirculation ducting, or is shipped modularly, we deliver engineering that accounts for all phases of its lifecycle. Calculation packages can be provided with or without a stamp by a Professional Engineer (PE) upon request.

Structural Engineering Services Include

Structural analysis of steel support frames and sub-structures per American Institute of Steel Construction (AISC) or other applicable codes
Application of design loads including dead, live, wind, seismic, snow, ice, nozzle, and fan thrust effects per American Society of Civil Engineering (ASCE) or international standards
Member sizing and structural support evaluation for various fan configurations
Steel connection design of critical components
Anchor bolt and baseplate design for frame-to-foundation connection
Calculation of foundation reaction loads for integration into your concrete base design
Lifting lug and lifting frame/cradle design and stress evaluation including impact loads
Transportation analysis for shipping orientation
Evaluation of blade pass frequency from fan operation and resonance with cooler natural frequency
Box header finite element analysis (FEA) verification and connection to side frame

Types of Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers We Support

Single and multi-bay arrays with varying fan and bundle arrangements
Vertical or horizontal fan configurations
Force-draught or induced-draught exchangers
Box-type or transition plenums
Mounted at grade or elevated by a sub-structure
Recirculation ducting and louvers

What You Receive

Structural calculation packages (PDF)
Optional PE stamp available upon request (additional fee may apply)
Steel frame member sizing and connection review
Foundation reaction forces and anchorage recommendations
Responsive engineering coordination throughout the project

Design Considerations We Address

Review of design loads provided by exchanger OEMs or end-users
Bundle and fan loads including fluid and thrust
Structural deflection limits to ensure equipment performance
Cooler weight distribution across multi-bay or skid-mounted systems
Integration with modular skids, pipe racks, or building structures
Support interface reactions for foundation coordination

Related Services

Clients who request ACHE frame analysis often also engage us for:

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