Description
HEAT EX Master is 3D-LABS’ heat exchanger design application for Windows — thermal rating, mechanical design, 3D model and issuable drawings in one tool. Its distinguishing feature is that nothing is hidden: every step of the rating shows the correlation used, the inputs and the reference it comes from, so a client or a licensor can follow the calculation instead of taking a black box on trust.
What HEAT EX Master does
Thermal design and rating
- Shell-and-tube rating by the Bell–Delaware method as standard, with Kern available for comparison
- All TEMA front head, shell and rear head type combinations
- Point-by-point calculation along the exchanger rather than a single bulk pass
- Design, rating and simulation modes, with automatic geometry optimisation
Condensing, boiling and two-phase duty
- Shell-side and tube-side condensation, including subcooling and desuperheating
- Pool boiling and flow boiling for kettles and thermosiphons
- Reflux condensers and falling-film evaporators
Other exchanger types
- Air-cooled exchangers with bundle configuration and fan selection
- Gasketed and welded plate exchangers, plate-fin and spiral units
- Hairpin and double-pipe exchangers, jacketed pipe and fired heater coils
Vibration and mechanical integrity
- Flow-induced vibration screening with acoustic resonance checks
- Natural frequency, fluid-elastic instability and vortex shedding assessment
- Mechanical design to ASME Section VIII Division 1 and EN 13445 — wall thickness, nozzles, flanges, expansion joints and MAWP
- Tubesheet design to the UHX rules and TEMA
Data, integration and automation
- Fluid property database with hydrocarbon, refrigerant and heat-transfer-fluid packages
- Process simulator link so stream data comes in without retyping
- Python API that runs headless, plus CSV batch runs for case studies
- Plant monitoring mode that tracks fouling from operating readings and flags cleaning points
Model, drawings and cost
- Interactive 3D model with section cuts and clash checking
- A3 general arrangement drawing, tube layout and tubesheet drilling drawing
- Bill of materials with bid-ready cost estimate
- STEP export to CAD
- Revamp mode that locks the existing shell, saddles and nozzles as hard constraints
Codes and standards supported
TEMA Classes B, C and R, ASME Section VIII Division 1 including the UHX tubesheet rules, EN 13445, API 660 for shell-and-tube and API 661 for air-cooled exchangers, with ASME Section II Part D material data.
How HEAT EX Master compares with HTRI Xchanger Suite
HTRI is the industry reference, built on its own proprietary test data. HEAT EX Master takes the opposite approach on transparency, and covers the mechanical design and drawing work HTRI leaves to other tools.
| Capability | HEAT EX Master | HTRI Xchanger Suite |
|---|---|---|
| Mechanical code design (tubesheet, nozzles, flanges, MAWP) | Built in, ASME VIII and EN 13445 | Handled through third-party tools |
| Every calculation step shows correlation, inputs and reference | Yes | Methods are proprietary and not disclosed |
| 3D model, GA drawing, tubesheet drilling and clash checks | Built in, with STEP export | 2D tube layout and setting plan |
| Bid-ready cost estimate from the bill of materials | Yes | Not available |
| Revamp mode with existing geometry locked as hard limits | Yes | Retrofit evaluation in SmartPM |
| AI assistant that sets up inputs and runs the case | Yes, blocked from reporting untraceable numbers | AI limited to fouling forecasts |
| Python API and CSV batch runs | Yes | Automation interface available |
| Basis of the thermal methods | Published methods, each one cited | Proprietary industrial test data |
Why engineering teams choose HEAT EX Master
- Auditable thermal design. Each coefficient, correction factor and pressure drop term is shown with its source, which matters when a licensor or client reviews the rating.
- Thermal and mechanical in one model. The tubesheet, nozzles and flanges are designed from the same geometry that was rated, so the drawing and the datasheet cannot drift apart.
- Revamps treated properly. Existing shell, saddle and nozzle positions are enforced as constraints rather than suggestions, which is how most real exchanger work arrives.
- Drawings you can issue. A3 general arrangement, tube layout and tubesheet drilling come out of the tool, with a bill of materials and a cost estimate attached.
- Automation without the GUI. The Python API and CSV batch runs let you sweep dozens of cases for a study overnight.
- Monitoring after start-up. Fouling tracking from plant readings closes the loop between the design case and how the unit actually performs.
Outputs you can issue to a client
- Thermal rating report with every correlation, input and reference shown
- TEMA datasheet and mechanical design calculations
- A3 general arrangement drawing, tube layout and tubesheet drilling drawing
- 3D model with STEP export
- Bill of materials with cost estimate
- Fouling and performance monitoring report for units in service
What is the licensing model?
Single-user perpetual licence with one year of free updates, or a site licence for concurrent users across a design office. Annual maintenance covering updates and priority support is available separately. Runs on Windows 10 and 11 64-bit, with the Python API available to licensed users.
Is a free trial available?
Yes. A fully functional trial is available on request through the 3D-LABS contact form, so you can rate a representative exchanger and compare the result against your current tool before committing.
Who should use HEAT EX Master
Process and mechanical engineers who size, rate or review heat exchangers — in EPC design offices, exchanger fabrication shops, and plant engineering teams handling revamps, debottlenecking and fouling problems.
Support
Licensed users get direct access to the engineers who build the software. Reach us on WhatsApp or by email for setup help, code questions and review support on live projects.
About HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software
HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software is a specialised engineering application from 3D-LABS, built by engineers who use it in practice. It sits between an Excel spreadsheet (too basic) and a full engineering suite (too expensive) — purpose-built for one job, done well.
Key features
- Windows desktop application — installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit. Needs an internet connection to activate on first install and for periodic licence checks.
- Your project files stay local — work is saved on your own machine or network drive, not in the cloud.
- Excel-compatible import/export — bring your existing spreadsheet data in; export results to Excel for reporting.
- Version history — every change is tracked; roll back to any prior state.
- Team collaboration — real-time collaboration on shared projects, with role-based access.
- API access — integrate with your existing workflow through REST API endpoints.
System requirements
Windows 10 or 11, 64-bit. Minimum 4 GB RAM. An internet connection is required to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Free trial
14-day full-featured trial without payment. Sign up with your email, no credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost — everything you built during the trial carries over.
Pricing
HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software is priced at ₹79,999 for a perpetual single-user licence with 12 months of updates and email support. Annual renewal from year 2 is 30% of the original price. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations. Volume discounts on 5+ seats.
Support and updates
Email support included with all licences — response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Video onboarding sessions at no extra charge for new users. Software updates roughly quarterly with bug fixes, new features, and code-reference updates. Enterprise SLA (4-hour response) available on request.
Related products and services
- Browse other 3D-LABS software products.
- Complement with our 686 engineering spreadsheets — Excel tools for calculations that do not need dedicated software.
- Need custom software development? See our IT services.
- Prefer AI-driven automation? Explore our 166 AI agents.
Frequently asked questions
What platform does HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software run on?
HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software is a Windows desktop application. It installs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit, and your project files are saved on your own machine or network drive. It is not available for Mac, Linux or mobile devices. An internet connection is needed to activate the licence on first install and for periodic licence checks.
Is there a free trial?
Yes. A 14-day full-featured trial is available without payment — sign up with your email at the trial link on this page. No credit card required. If you upgrade to a paid licence during the trial, no data is lost.
What is the pricing model?
Purchase includes a perpetual licence for one user with 12 months of updates and support. Annual renewal (from year 2) is 30% of the original licence price and covers all software updates and email support. Team licences and floating licences available for organisations.
How does support work?
Email support included with all licences — response within one business day (Mon-Sat, IST). Priority support available for enterprise customers with 4-hour SLA. Video onboarding sessions available for new users at no extra charge.
How does HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software compare to alternatives?
The nearest alternative is typically an Excel spreadsheet or a large all-in-one engineering suite. HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software fills the gap: purpose-built for one job, faster than Excel, cheaper than a full suite, and integrates cleanly with your existing workflow. Comparison sheet available on request.
About 3D-LABS software
HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software is one of five specialised engineering software applications from 3D-LABS. Every application is built and maintained by the engineers who use it in practice — this is applied practice packaged as software, not consulting-firm software built by a marketing team.
