I would like to offer some support for the half-pipe jacket from the process point of view when cooling water from once through cooling water or non-tempered cooling tower loops are used.
Dimple jackets are prone to plug over the years because I have yet to see anyone diligently maintain their cooling water quality at an acceptable level year after year after year.
Likewise the traditionally poor flow distribution in the conventional jacket gives uneven heat transfer from day one and in the long run tends to collect solids in the stagnant areas. Again, poor cooling water quality does it in in the long run.
Because the flow path of the half-pipe jacket is defined by the half-pipe and vessel boundaries, it is inherently better in the long run, especially when maintaining cooling water quality takes a back seat to other pressing issues.
I have personally thrown away about a dozen dimple jacket reactors and one or two conventional jacket reactors due to poor heat transfer after about 20 years service. I have never thrown away a half-pipe jacket reactor even after longer periods of time. Yes, they are tougher to fabricate. A full penetration weld is a MUST on the jacket to vessel welds. I only accept proof of a fabricators method only after a destructive examination of a mock-up using precisely the same welders, materials and procedures.
Yes, the gap between half-pipes is not wetted on the cooling water side, but it is not totally ineffective. Through conduction and the fin effect of the two half-pipes beside the gap, I have found it to be 60-80% as effective as the area wetted on both sides.
Just my $0.02 worth.
Good luck,
Latexman