Forged tube sheet is one of the most critical pressure components used in shell and tube heat exchangers, condensers, boilers and pressure vessel systems. It is designed to support and position heat exchanger tubes while separating shell side and tube side fluids to ensure safe and efficient thermal performance.
Senrui is a professional forged tube sheet manufacturer in China, supplying heavy forged tube sheets, drilled tube sheets and cladded tube sheets for global heat exchanger fabricators, EPC contractors and refinery maintenance projects.
A tube sheet is a thick circular or rectangular metal plate precisely drilled with a pattern of holes to accommodate heat exchanger tubes. Tubes are fixed into the tube sheet through expansion, welding or combination methods to prevent fluid mixing and maintain structural integrity.
Compared with plate fabricated tube sheets, forged tube sheets provide higher mechanical strength, better grain structure and improved pressure resistance, making them ideal for high pressure and critical heat exchanger applications.
Tube sheets are widely used in:
Shell and tube heat exchangers
Surface condensers
Boiler tube bundles
Petrochemical pressure vessels
LNG heat transfer units
Offshore process skids
Manufactured through open die or ring forging process, suitable for high pressure and thick wall heat exchanger applications.
Precision CNC or deep hole drilling ensures accurate tube pitch layout and tight dimensional tolerance.
Base material carbon steel with stainless steel or nickel alloy overlay to improve corrosion resistance.
Used in floating head heat exchangers to accommodate thermal expansion.
Commonly used in fixed tube sheet heat exchanger designs for compact structure and cost efficiency.
| Parameter | Range |
|---|---|
| Product Type | Forged Tube Sheet / Drilled Tube Sheet |
| Max Diameter | Up to 5000 mm |
| Thickness Range | 50 – 600 mm |
| Hole Diameter | Customized |
| Hole Tolerance | H7 / H8 |
| Tube Pitch Layout | Triangular / Square |
| Surface Finish | Machined / Cladded |
| Heat Treatment | Normalizing / Q&T / PWHT |
| Inspection | UT RT PT PMI Hardness |
Carbon Steel
ASTM A516 Gr60 Gr70
ASTM A266
Alloy Steel
ASTM A182 F11 F22
Stainless Steel
ASTM A240 304 316 321
Duplex & Super Duplex
UNS S31803
UNS S32750
Nickel Alloy
Inconel 625
Hastelloy C276
Monel 400
Cladded tube sheets combine carbon steel strength with corrosion resistant alloy overlay for harsh environments.
Raw Material Inspection
Forging or Plate Cutting
Heat Treatment
CNC Facing
Deep Hole Drilling
Groove Machining
Cladding Welding (if required)
Non Destructive Testing
Final Dimensional Inspection
Advanced drilling capability ensures high precision tube hole alignment and optimal ligament efficiency.
Tube Expansion
Mechanical rolling creates tight interference fit between tube and tube sheet.
Strength Welding
Seal welding or strength welding improves leak tightness in high pressure service.
Groove Expansion
Grooved tube sheet holes increase pull-out resistance.
Combination fixing methods are widely used in refinery heat exchangers.
Tube Pitch Distance
Ligament Width
Tube Hole Tolerance
Tube Sheet Thickness
Operating Pressure
Thermal Expansion Stress
Corrosion Allowance
Cladding Thickness
Proper design ensures safe pressure containment and efficient heat transfer performance.
Forged tube sheets provide higher fatigue resistance, better internal structure and longer service life in high pressure heat exchanger systems.
Plate tube sheets are suitable for medium pressure applications but may have lower strength and shorter lifespan.
👉 For critical applications, forged tube sheet is always the preferred solution.
Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers
Surface Condensers
Refinery Process Equipment
Power Plant Boiler Systems
Petrochemical Reactors
Offshore Processing Modules
LNG Heat Transfer Units
Forged tube sheets are essential in high pressure and high temperature heat exchanger systems.
Professional forged tube sheet manufacturer and supplier
Large diameter forging capability
High precision CNC drilling
Strong customization based on drawings
Cladded overlay manufacturing capability
Strict NDT quality control
Fast delivery for shutdown projects
Global export experience
Heavy duty wooden crate packing
Anti corrosion protection
Tube hole protection covers
Clear lifting marking
Full project documentation
What tolerance is required for tube sheet drilling
H7 or H8 depending on tube fixing method.
What is tube pitch layout
Distance between tube hole centers affecting heat transfer efficiency.
What thickness should a tube sheet have
Depends on pressure design code and heat exchanger configuration.
Can tube sheet be cladded
Yes, stainless steel or nickel alloy cladding improves corrosion resistance.
What inspection is required
UT, RT, PT, PMI, hardness testing and dimensional inspection.
Looking for a reliable forged tube sheet manufacturer or heat exchanger tube sheet supplier?
Contact Senrui engineering team for:
Technical drawing review
Material selection support
Project quotation
Fast production lead time
👉 Send your inquiry now and get a reply within 24 hours.
