ISO 15547-2:2005

Overview

ISO 15547-2:2005 specifies requirements and recommendations for brazed aluminium plate‑fin heat exchangers used in the petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries. The standard covers mechanical design, materials selection, fabrication, inspection and testing, and preparation for shipment. It is Part 2 of the ISO 15547 series (Part 1 covers plate‑and‑frame heat exchangers) and replaces ISO 15547:2000 as the technical revision for plate‑type exchangers.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and definitions: Clear terminology for plate‑fin heat exchangers, heat transfer area, minimum design metal temperature, item numbering and more.
• Design codes and purchaser decisions: The purchaser must specify the pressure design code (e.g., ASME Section VIII, EN 13445) and any structural welding code. Several clauses require purchaser input (noted as decision points).
• Design limits: Vendor must handle design pressure and temperatures; minimum design metal temperature and maximum design temperature are purchaser‑specified.
• Thermal stress assumptions: Vendor design shall allow for thermally induced stresses with example local temperature differences of 50 K between adjacent streams and 30 K in two‑phase, transient or cyclic conditions.
• Fouling and corrosion allowances: Fouling resistance is assumed zero unless specified; corrosion allowance is zero, reflecting typical clean‑service application of plate‑fin exchangers.
• Materials and fabrication: Requirements for materials selection, brazing procedures and welding (where applicable). ALPEMA manufacturer practices are referenced as informative material.
• Drawings and documentation: General arrangement drawings, lifting/handling instructions, torque requirements, test procedures, and final user manuals (as‑built data sheets).
• Inspection, testing and records: Pressure and leak testing, drying procedures, inspection records retention (vendor to retain for at least five years).
• Optional features: Mercury‑tolerant designs, self‑draining/self‑venting connection requirements, metal‑temperature monitoring devices, earthing lugs and nozzle force/moment allowances when specified.

Applications and who uses this standard

ISO 15547-2 is used by:

• Mechanical engineers and heat‑exchanger designers specifying or validating brazed aluminium plate‑fin heat exchangers
• Vendors and fabricators preparing proposals, drawings, brazing/welding procedures and QA records
• Procurement and EPC teams writing purchase orders and technical specifications for oil, gas and petrochemical plants
• Inspection, commissioning and maintenance teams performing tests, installation and safe operation checks

Typical applications include air coolers, gas‑to‑gas and gas‑to‑liquid heat transfer duties where compact, high‑effectiveness, clean‑service exchangers are required.

Related standards

• ISO 15547‑1 (Plate‑and‑frame heat exchangers)
• ASME Section VIII, EN 13445 (examples of pressure design codes)
• ALPEMA manufacturer standards (informative reference)
• ISO/TC 67 committee publications (petroleum, petrochemical and natural gas industries)

For procurement or compliance, obtain the full ISO 15547‑2:2005 document from ISO or your national standards body to access complete tables, figures, annexes (recommended practice, checklist and data‑sheet templates) and normative text.