ASTM B171 C46400 Precision Machined Naval Brass Tubesheet for Marine Heat Exchangers

Naval Brass C46400 Tubesheet B171 Cuzn36sn1 For Marine Heat Exchanger

ASTM B171 C46400 tubesheet is a precision-machined copper alloy component used in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, condensers and other thermal equipment.

C46400 is commonly known as Naval Brass, a copper-zinc-tin alloy specified under ASTM B171/B171M for plate, sheet and circles used in pressure vessels, condensers and heat exchangers.

The tubesheet is machined according to the customer's heat exchanger drawing, including tube-hole diameter, tube pitch, hole pattern, sealing grooves, pass-partition arrangement and overall dimensions.

For marine equipment, C46400 Naval Brass can be selected where the combination of copper-alloy strength and corrosion resistance is required.

C46400 is a Naval Brass copper alloy containing copper, zinc and tin. ASTM B171/B171M specifically lists C46400 as Naval Brass, Uninhibited. The alloy is commonly considered for marine components where corrosion resistance and mechanical strength are required. For heat exchanger tubesheets, the material selection should also consider:

• Seawater chemistry
• Operating temperature
• Tube material
• Tube-to-tubesheet joining method
• Differential thermal expansion
• Galvanic compatibility
• Design pressure
• Heat exchanger drawing requirements

The C46400 tubesheet can be manufactured according to the customer's detailed heat exchanger drawing. Typical machining includes:

• CNC turning
• Tube-hole drilling
• Tube-hole reaming
• Tube-hole pattern machining
• Pass-partition groove machining
• Sealing surface machining
• Tube expansion grooves
• Bolt-hole drilling
• Facing
• Dimensional inspection

Tube Hole Configuration

Tube-hole dimensions can be customized according to:

• Tube outside diameter
• Tube wall thickness
• Tube material
• Tube-to-tubesheet joining method
• Tube pitch
• Number of tube holes
• Tube layout
• Heat exchanger pass arrangement

Inspection can be arranged according to the heat exchanger drawing, purchase specification and applicable material standard. Typical inspection items include:

• Chemical composition
• Tensile testing
• Dimensional inspection
• Tube-hole diameter inspection
• Tube pitch inspection
• Hole location inspection
• Flatness inspection
• Visual and surface inspection
• PMI
• UT where specified
• PT where specified
• Third-party inspection

For a machined tubesheet, dimensional inspection and tube-hole inspection are especially important because the final hole pattern must match the heat exchanger tube bundle.

Available documentation can include:

• ASTM B171/B171M Material Test Certificate
• EN 10204 3.1 MTC
• EN 10204 3.2 Certificate when required
• Chemical Analysis Report
• Mechanical Test Report
• PMI Report
• Dimensional Inspection Report
• NDT Report
• Heat Treatment Record where applicable
• Drawing / Inspection Drawing
• Third-Party Inspection Report
• Certificate of Origin

Each tubesheet is protected against surface damage, wrapped with waterproof material and securely packed in a seaworthy plywood case or reinforced pallet according to its size and weight.