🔥

Fired Heater Sizing Calculator

API 560 API 530 GPSA Ch. 8

Calculation Mode:
Calculate heat duty from process fluid conditions, then size radiant and convection sections.

Process Fluid

°F
°F
psig
air/water=1
BTU/lb-°F
Leave 0 for auto-estimate based on fluid type

Heater Design

inches
inches
Sch 40: 0.337" for 4.5" OD
×
Typical: 1.10–1.25 over process duty

Fuel & Combustion

BTU/SCF
BTU/SCF
%
Typical: 15-25% for natural draft, 10-15% for forced draft
°F

Engineering Basis

Process Duty
Q = ṁ × Cp × (T_out − T_in)
Tube Wall Temperature (API 530)
T_wall = T_fluid + q × (1/h_i + t/k)

Fired Heater Quick Reference

Radiant fraction65–75%
Max flux (gas)10,000 BTU/hr-ft²
Gross efficiency80–92%
Excess air15–25%
Stack temp350–500°F