Where is the exchanger blinded during a tubeside pressure test?

• A. On the channel head flanges
• B. On the nozzle flange
• C. At the shell side
• D. At the vent connection

Answer: (A)

When testing the tubeside, you want to isolate the entire tube-side circuit so you can pressurize it without any flow into the shell side. The channel head is where the tubeside connects to the exchanger, so placing a blind on the channel head flanges seals the tubeside end and creates a closed volume for the pressure test. This ensures any leakage observed is from the tubeside or tube sheets themselves, not from other openings. Blinding on a nozzle flange would seal only one connection and wouldn’t fully isolate the tubeside, while blinding at the shell side or the vent connection wouldn’t achieve the needed isolation or proper venting for a tubeside test.