Heatpedia - Shell-and-tube heat exchanger for Industrial Liquid and Gas Applications
Tubular heat exchangers are integral components in the industrial process of transferring thermal energy between fluids. Designed primarily for heating or cooling, these exchangers utilize the principle of thermal exchange through a series of tubes, effectively managing both liquid and gaseous substances. They cater to applications demanding higher pressure resistance and robust design, ensuring reliable operation in diverse conditions. Although their heat transfer rate is moderate compared to plate heat exchangers, tubular variants excel in handling higher pressures, thereby offering an optimal solution for processes where pressure endurance is paramount. Customization in the material selection of wetted surfaces addresses the risk of corrosion, crucial for operational longevity. The opportunity to insulate or leave the exchanger uninsulated for custom solutions further enhances their adaptability to specific operational environments, making them a versatile choice in industries ranging from life sciences to plant engineering.
Tubular heat exchangers transfer the thermal energy of a fluid to another one. Therefore, their name is tubular heat exchanger. The fluids involved are mainly liquid but can also be gaseous. The type and properties of the fluids, pressures and temperatures as well as the desired operating points in the process are important for the design.
One fluid in the tubular heat exchangers transfers the energy, and this energy is transferred to the other fluid through the pipe wall. Here, it is important that the design be matched to the general conditions, for each fluid has its specific properties.
The advantage of tubular heat exchangers over plate heat exchangers is their higher pressure resistance and sturdier type of design. The disadvantage is a somewhat worse heat transfer as the larger design provides the same performance.
For example, the following fluids are cooled and/or heated by tubular heat exchangers:
I. Water
- Drinking water
- Circulating and/or heating water
- Softened water, observe the maximally admissible chloride content
- Ultra-pure water; here, a low-pocket or pocket-free design with a defined surface quality is useful in most cases.
- Fully desalted water
II. Oil
- Heavy oil, not pumpable in a cold condition
- Hydraulics oil
- Lubricating oil
- Insulating oil
- Heat transfer oil
- Fuel oil, diesel
III. Gases
- Air
- Natural gas
- Flue gas
- Nitrogen
- Steam as a heating fluid or for the generation of steam
The fluids involved and their temperatures mainly define the material which can be used for the wetted surface or surfaces involved in the heat transfer. Otherwise, corrosion may quickly result in a failure of the flow-type heater, for example.
Materials of the wetted components:
- Carbon steel
- Corrosion-resistant stainless steel
- Heat-resistant stainless steel
- Titanium, Hastelloy, special materials
- Brass
The tubular heat exchangers can be delivered without insulation (for a customer-provided insulation) or with insulation. The insulation can be designed as follows:
I. Insulation material
- Mineral wool with a galvanized or aluminium-coated metal jacket
- Diffusion-tight or gas-tight insulation
- Insulation for indoor or outdoor installation
We are prepared to agree with you on the type and position of the fluid connections.. The following connections are available:
I. Fluid connections
- Standard flanges (DIN, ASME, SAE etc.)
- Female or male thread connections
- Clamp flanges
- Sterile flanges
- Dairy-type pipe connections