Description
Looking for a reliable HTRI alternative? HEAT EX Master is affordable heat exchanger design and rating software from 3D-LABS that helps you get the job done faster, with a simple, reliable workflow.
What’s Included in This Software
HEAT EX Master is 3D-Labs’ heat exchanger thermal design and rating software for shell-and-tube, air-cooled (ACHE), and plate heat exchangers, compliant with ASME Section VIII Div 1 (mechanical design), TEMA 10th Edition (shell-and-tube standards), API 660 (shell-and-tube for petroleum/petrochemical), API 661 (air-cooled heat exchangers), and HTRI/Aspen-equivalent Kern and Bell-Delaware thermal methods. It covers thermal rating, thermal design, vibration analysis, and mechanical design — the four deliverables required for every heat exchanger data sheet in an EPC project.
Is HEAT EX Master a Good HTRI Alternative?
HEAT EX Master is a powerful and affordable HTRI alternative for heat exchanger thermal design and rating, delivering TEMA and API-compliant results at a fraction of HTRI and Aspen Exchanger Design & Rating licensing cost, making it ideal heat exchanger software for EPC teams, process engineers, and independent thermal consultancies.
What does HEAT EX Master analyse?
HEAT EX Master covers: shell-and-tube thermal rating (Kern and Bell-Delaware methods per TEMA 10th Ed.), tube layout and baffle design (single-segmental, double-segmental, no-tubes-in-window), air-cooled heat exchanger (ACHE) design per API 661 with fan selection and plot plan, plate heat exchanger sizing for single-phase and two-phase duties, mechanical design per ASME Section VIII Div 1 (tubesheet, shell, channel, nozzle reinforcement), tube vibration analysis (Connors’ criterion, acoustic resonance, vortex shedding per TEMA RCB-4.6), fouling factor management per TEMA Table RGP-T-2.4, and LMTD/ε-NTU correction factor calculation for multi-pass configurations.
Which standards does HEAT EX Master follow?
ASME Section VIII Division 1 (Pressure Vessel Code for mechanical design), TEMA 10th Edition (Standards of the Tubular Exchanger Manufacturers Association), API 660 (Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Service), API 661 (Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Service), API 662 (Plate Heat Exchangers for General Refinery Service), HEI Standards (Heat Exchange Institute — surface condenser and feedwater heater), and IS 4503 (Indian Standard for shell-and-tube heat exchangers).
What inputs are required for a HEAT EX Master thermal rating?
Process data (flow rates, inlet/outlet temperatures, operating/design pressures), fluid physical properties (density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, specific heat — built-in databank or manual entry), exchanger geometry (shell diameter, tube OD/BWG/length/pitch/layout, baffle spacing/cut, number of tube passes), material selection (tube and shell materials per ASME SA specifications), fouling resistances (TEMA Table RGP-T-2.4 recommended values or project-specific), and design code (TEMA class R, C, or B; ASME VIII Div 1 edition year).
How does HEAT EX Master perform tube vibration analysis?
Per TEMA RCB-4.6, HEAT EX Master checks three independent failure modes: fluid-elastic instability (Connors’ critical velocity — flow-induced vibration onset), vortex shedding (lock-in check against tube natural frequency per Blevins), and acoustic resonance (standing wave frequency vs. vortex frequency per Chen/Eisinger). The software flags spans exceeding critical velocity and recommends corrective measures — detuning baffles, tube support modifications, or velocity redistribution — following TEMA and HTRI best practice.
Why is AI-generated heat exchanger design unreliable for code compliance?
AI tools misapply TEMA fouling factors (confusing design vs. operating fouling resistance), cannot correctly perform Bell-Delaware stream analysis (bypass, leakage, and window correction factors are interdependent), and fail to flag vibration-critical spans in the baffle-to-tubesheet region. HEAT EX Master has been used in 200+ heat exchanger data sheets audited by third-party certifying authorities including Lloyd’s Register, Bureau Veritas, and TÜV Rheinland since 2003.
Who Should Use HEAT EX Master as an HTRI Alternative?
HEAT EX Master is built for process and mechanical engineers who need code-compliant thermal design and rating for shell-and-tube, air-cooled, and plate heat exchangers without maintaining separate licenses for thermal rating, mechanical design, and vibration analysis. It suits EPC thermal engineering teams preparing heat exchanger data sheets, process engineering groups sizing exchangers for FEED and detailed design, and consultancies that need TEMA/API-compliant deliverables for certifying-authority submission. HEAT EX Master pairs well with 3D-Labs’ other engineering software: PV Master for pressure vessel design, PIPE Master for pipe stress analysis, STR Master for structural analysis, and DRAFTY for 2D/3D drafting. See the complete lineup on the 3D-Labs engineering software page.
Licensing and Support
HEAT EX Master is sold as a perpetual license with free updates for one year, so thermal engineering teams can budget for heat exchanger design software as a one-time cost rather than a recurring subscription. Each license includes the TEMA thermal rating, API mechanical design, and vibration analysis modules described above, plus email support for setup, code-edition updates, and questions about thermal design methodology.
What’s Included
Instant access to the software, ready to install and use right away.
Related Products
DRAFTY — 2D and 3D CAD Drafting and Modelling Software
PIPE Master — Pipe Stress Analysis Software
PV Master — Pressure Vessel Design Software
STR Master — Structural Stress Analysis Software
Download the HEAT EX Master — Heat Exchanger Design & Rating Software from 3D-LABS for instant, verifiable results.
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
Web-based access — no installation required. Runs in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.
Cloud-synced projects — access your work from any device, sync automatically across your team.
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
Modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari — 2 years old or newer). Minimum 4 GB RAM, stable internet connection. No installation, no local storage requirements beyond browser cache. Desktop client available for offline use on Windows 10/11.
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 680+ 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 web-based application accessed through your browser — no installation required. It runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices. For workflows requiring desktop integration, a companion Windows client is available.
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 alternatives are HTRI Xchanger Suite and Aspen Exchanger Design & Rating. HEAT EX Master fills the gap: purpose-built for thermal design and rating, faster to learn than HTRI, cheaper than Aspen EDR, 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 the 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.
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
- Web-based access — no installation required. Runs in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.
- Cloud-synced projects — access your work from any device, sync automatically across your team.
- 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
Modern browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari — 2 years old or newer). Minimum 4 GB RAM, stable internet connection. No installation, no local storage requirements beyond browser cache. Desktop client available for offline use on Windows 10/11.
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 680 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 web-based application accessed through your browser — no installation required. It runs on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile devices. For workflows requiring desktop integration, a companion Windows client is available.
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.
