What You Should Know About Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

August 25, 2022

Heat exchangers are machines that move thermal energy from one working fluid to another, whether the fluids being exchanged are solids, liquids, or gases. Heat may be transferred in all three states. These machines are vital for a wide variety of processes, including refrigeration, power generation, HVAC, and more; they come in a wide variety of forms and sizes and have the ability to either generate heat or remove it.

It can be challenging to comprehend what distinguishes one heat exchanger from another; hence, the purpose of this article is to provide readers with an introduction to the shell and tube heat exchanger, which is one of the most common types of heat exchangers. This blog will explain what shell and tube heat exchangers are, how they function, the available several varieties, and how they are utilised in the manufacturing business.

Characteristics of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

The fundamental premise upon which all heat exchangers are based is that heat and, by extension, energy, will be transferred from a warmer to a cooler fluid as it flows over or around it. Consider the following when you reach for the icy steering wheel on a winter morning: Although the temperature differential between your hand and the wheel is initially substantial, the wheel gradually "warms up" as your body heat is transferred from your hand to it. A simple heat exchanger may be understood with this example: bring two fluids of different temperatures near together and let them "exchange" heat through a conductive barrier.

Simply described, a shell and tube heat exchanger is a system that uses tubes contained within an outer cylindrical shell to bring two working fluids into thermal contact with one other. Metals with high thermal conductivity are typically used to construct these two interconnected paths. The tubes transport fluid from an input to an outlet and a second fluid is passed over them by the shell. How much heat is transmitted from the tube bundle to the shell side flow is a function of the number of tubes in the bundle. These devices are among the best at transferring heat since they are simple to construct and maintain, take up little space, and function very well. They have a broad variety of applications in industry, from cooling condensers and turbines to evaporating water and preheating input water.

The Thermodynamics Behind Heat Exchangers

Thermodynamics is the branch of science that studies the movement of heat energy, temperature, and its connections to other types of energy. The process of designing a heat exchanger is an application of thermodynamics. Conduction, convection, and radiation are the three modes of heat transfer that should be familiarised to have a solid foundation upon which to build an understanding of the thermodynamics of heat exchangers.

How Heat Is Transferred

Heat exchangers use two ways to move heat: single-phase heat transfer or two-phase heat transfer.

In single-phase heat exchangers, the fluids don't change phase during the heat transfer process. This means that both the warmer and cooler fluids stay in the same state they were in when they went into the heat exchanger. For instance, when heat is transferred from hot water to cold water, the hot water loses heat, which is then transferred to the cold water without changing into a gas or solid.

In two-phase heat exchangers, on the other hand, fluids do change phase as heat is transferred. The phase change can happen in either or both of the fluids. This means that the liquid can turn into a gas or the gas can turn into a liquid. Most of the time, designing a device with a two-phase heat transfer mechanism is more complicated than designing a device with a single-phase heat transfer mechanism. Boilers, condensers, and evaporators are all examples of two-phase heat exchangers.

To get a better understanding of shell and tube heat exchangers and our products and services, contact us today!

Contact Details

Fusion - Weld Engineering Pty Ltd
ABN 98 068 987619

1865 Frankston Flinders Road,
Hastings, VIC 3915

Ph: (03) 5909 8218

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