×
INTELLIGENT WORK FORUMS
FOR ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS

Log In

Come Join Us!

Are you an
Engineering professional?
Join Eng-Tips Forums!
  • Talk With Other Members
  • Be Notified Of Responses
    To Your Posts
  • Keyword Search
  • One-Click Access To Your
    Favorite Forums
  • Automated Signatures
    On Your Posts
  • Best Of All, It's Free!
  • Students Click Here

*Eng-Tips's functionality depends on members receiving e-mail. By joining you are opting in to receive e-mail.

Posting Guidelines

Promoting, selling, recruiting, coursework and thesis posting is forbidden.

Students Click Here

Jobs

Heat Exchanger Configuration

Heat Exchanger Configuration

Heat Exchanger Configuration

(OP)
I have a job where we we are mounting a shell-tube heat exchanger (API Plan 23) on a OH2 pump..what is the best config for heat exchanger, vertical or horizontal?  And why?  

My thought for venting in an horizontal HE, each coil wrap will have localized vapour pockets which could only be pushed out by a the flow..whereas for a vertical HE..the vapour pockets should rise through the coils up to the vent..so is the vertical position more desirable?

RE: Heat Exchanger Configuration

(OP)
Thanks bimr.  But it doesnt explain advantages/disadvantages for a horizontal or vertical heat exchanger..I had already asked the the company that is supplying the HE and the Engg dept is taking a long time to get back to me..hence I am asking here:)

RE: Heat Exchanger Configuration

I baffles in a horizontal exchanger will not be sealed so tight that vapor pockets can form. So it doesn't matter.

RE: Heat Exchanger Configuration

Of all the machinery I've ever been around, navy, compression equipment, etc...I can't recall ever seeing a vertical heat
exhanger.

Regarding vapor or air pockets:  In a horizontal unit, the vapor will build up in the one of the heads, collect at the top of the head and can be easily vented, while allowing the majority of the tubes to flow unhindered, but in a vertical unit, an air bound area could form at the top of all the tubes with no way to vent them.

RE: Heat Exchanger Configuration

I have seen both mountings.
Horizontal: if you mount horizontally then you need to have it above the pump centerline. In doing this you should have a high point vent tee off at the top of the tubing to seal. Vent HE when pump is flooded and again just after start up.
Vertical: I have seen then below pump centerline with high point vent at the seal at 12 o'clock and another tee off at the HE.  The system was working well.
I think that provided you can vent the system properly and be assured of no air traps then either will work!   

Red Flag This Post

Please let us know here why this post is inappropriate. Reasons such as off-topic, duplicates, flames, illegal, vulgar, or students posting their homework.

Red Flag Submitted

Thank you for helping keep Eng-Tips Forums free from inappropriate posts.
The Eng-Tips staff will check this out and take appropriate action.

Reply To This Thread

Posting in the Eng-Tips forums is a member-only feature.

Click Here to join Eng-Tips and talk with other members!


Resources