Shell & Tube Orientation
Shell & Tube Orientation
(OP)
I have an application for a single pass (both shell side and tube side) heat exchanger. This ia a low temperature (-70 °C shell, -25 °C tube) application primarily concerned with heat removal resulting from a chemical reactor in a batch process.
I would like to orient the exchanger vertically with tube side flow into the top and out the bottom. Shell side flow is to be counter-current. I expect a dT of -2 °C on the tube side and +10 °C on the shell side.
I have been told that horizontal orientation is better than vertical for heat transfer. This does not make any sense to me. I'd think the difference between horizontal and vertical should be negligible, and in the case of this application (with the dTs the way they are) vertical might be slightly better.
Anyone with thoughts on this?
thanks
I would like to orient the exchanger vertically with tube side flow into the top and out the bottom. Shell side flow is to be counter-current. I expect a dT of -2 °C on the tube side and +10 °C on the shell side.
I have been told that horizontal orientation is better than vertical for heat transfer. This does not make any sense to me. I'd think the difference between horizontal and vertical should be negligible, and in the case of this application (with the dTs the way they are) vertical might be slightly better.
Anyone with thoughts on this?
thanks





RE: Shell & Tube Orientation
I feel gravity is a factor. There may be less contact period if you are allowing fluid to flow from top to bottom. You may end up with valve controling below the heat exchanger.
Regards,
RE: Shell & Tube Orientation
Best Regards
Morten
RE: Shell & Tube Orientation
thanks
RE: Shell & Tube Orientation
What you have to consider is:
1. is foot print area at premium?
2. do you have enough headroom for maintenance if vertical is selected? conversely, is there enough horizontal room for tube bundle removal?
3. is piping arrangemente suitable for either position?
4. Good venting/drainage of shell and tubes is required for optimum performance (no air pockets)... careful on the venting, drainage arrangement of the shell side in vertical arrangement.
HTH
saludos.
a.
RE: Shell & Tube Orientation
Apart from that, and as long as the flowrates are controlled, there is no real difference in liquid-to-liquid subcoolers. However, what abeltio mentioned about maintenance is very important. Particulate deposition favours low areas in a process line and the HX should be accessible for cleaning approx. once a year. Is it fixed tubesheet or removable bundle?
regards,
melv