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Working principle of tubular heat exchangers
Two fluids of different temperatures flow respectively in the shell side and the tube side. The hot fluid bends through the tube bundle in the shell side, transferring heat to the tube wall. The cold fluid flows inside the pipe, absorbing heat from the pipe wall. The tube wall serves as the heat transfer surface to achieve heat exchange, while the two fluids do not mix with each other. This design is structurally robust and suitable for high-pressure and high-temperature working conditions.
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Shell and tube heat exchanger structure
The shell and tube heat exchanger is composed of components such as the shell, heat transfer tube bundle, tube sheet, baffle plate (baffle) and tube box. The shell is mostly cylindrical in shape, with tube bundles installed inside. The two ends of the tube bundles are fixed on the tube sheets.
The two fluids that undergo heat exchange, hot and cold, one flows inside the tube and is called the tube side fluid. Another type flows outside the tube and is called shell-side fluid. To enhance the heat transfer coefficient of the fluid outside the tube, several baffles are usually installed inside the shell.
Baffles can increase the fluid velocity in the shell side, forcing the fluid to pass laterally through the tube bundle multiple times along the prescribed path and enhancing the degree of fluid turbulence.
The heat exchange tubes can be arranged in equilateral triangles or squares on the tube sheet. The equilateral triangular arrangement is relatively compact, the turbulence degree of the fluid outside the tube is high, and the heat transfer coefficient is large. The square arrangement makes it convenient to clean the outside of the tube and is suitable for fluids that are prone to scaling.
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Selection of tube and shell sides
Unclean, easily scaling and corrosive fluids should be conveyed through the tube side to prevent simultaneous corrosion of the tube bundle and the shell, and to facilitate cleaning and maintenance.
Fluids with high pressure should pass through the tube side to avoid simultaneous pressure on the shell.
Toxic fluids should be passed through the pipe side to reduce the chance of leakage.
The cooled fluid should preferably pass through the shell side, which facilitates heat dissipation and enhances the cooling effect.
Saturated steam is advisable to pass through the shell side, which facilitates the discharge of condensate and non-condensable gas, and the steam is clean and non-polluting.
Fluids with low flow rate or high viscosity are suitable for the shell side. Due to the effect of the baffle plate, turbulence can be achieved at a low Reynolds number (Re > 100).
If the temperature difference between the two fluids is large, it is advisable to let the fluid with a greater α flow through the shell side to reduce the temperature difference between the tube wall and the shell wall.
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Difference between plate heat exchangers and shell-and-tube heat exchangers
The main difference between plate heat exchangers and shell-and-tube heat exchangers lies in their heat transfer efficiency, size, weight, and ease of disassembly and cleaning. Plate heat exchangers are suitable for low to medium pressure, relatively low temperature, and clean media conditions, such as air conditioning, domestic hot water, and general industrial heat exchange. Shell-and-tube heat exchangers, on the other hand, have a robust and reliable structure, capable of withstanding high temperature, high pressure, and dirty media. They are suitable for complex conditions such as petrochemical and power industries, involving high temperature, high pressure, solids, or scaling. Under the same conditions, their heat transfer efficiency is slightly lower and their size is larger, but their lifespan and applicability are wider. In general, plate heat exchangers are preferred for clean, low to medium pressure environments, while shell-and-tube heat exchangers are preferred for harsh, high-temperature, and high-pressure environments.
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Hainan Yongtuo Win-Win International Technology Co., Ltd.
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