In some cases I have seem S&T Heat Exhangers data sheet, requiring tubsheet material with Clad and in another cases tubesheet material with weld overlay (WO).

For construction and for general aspects, what is the best option between both clad and WO?

Regards,

I've seen commonly used W.Os on tubesheets and in our practice it is our requirement for manufacturers. But within last few months I've seen some scientific paper and results of tests that refutes this and shows that explosion bound cladding is better to be used than W.Os.


Regards,
malyl.

Malyl,

in order to understand this matter, tell me why do you used W.O., please.

Regards,

Wrl69,

It was some years ago when the methods of explosion bond cladding techniques were not so well developed and more often lack of fusion between base metal and cladding was observed. For W.Os such problems rarely occured. Lack of bond was observed especially in fixed heat exchangers were the stresses on the tubes-tubesheets joints are higher. As I wrote before I've seen papers showing that explosion bonding is as much good quality as W.Os.
In both cases important is experience of explosion bond performing company (reference lists, tests, quality control) and experience of welders performing W.Os.

Regards,

also exotic materils like Titanium you have no other option than Explosion bonded tube sheet