What is a tubular heat exchanger?

A heat exchanger is process equipment designed to transfer heat between two fluids or between the surface of a solid and a moving fluid.

The manufacture of the heat exchanger can be performed in different grades of stainless steel or special alloys. They can withstand high and low operating pressures and a wide range of process temperatures. In the manufacture of heat exchangers, welding is a key aspect of the process. The tubular heat exchangers are very efficient process equipment, and a high speed improves heat transfer considerably.

Sizing of a tubular heat exchanger

To carry out the dimensioning of Stainless Steel Heat Exchanger Tubes, it is necessary to have certain starting data, such as the process flow, the initial and final temperature.

An essential factor for the calculation and dimensioning of a tubular heat exchanger is to be able to characterize the behaviour of the product. It should be done in a reliable and precise way, through laboratory tests, where it is possible to determine the main properties of the product, such as:

• Density
• Specific heat
• Thermal conductivity
• Viscosity

What are the basic components of a tubular heat exchanger?

Tube bundle: The tube bundle is the set of tubes that provide the heat transfer surface between the fluid that circulates inside it and the fluid that circulates through the housing.

Tubular plate: The tubular plate is a metal plate. It has been perforated or drilled, where the Stainless Steel Tube Fittings that form the tubular heat exchanger are housed, which is fixed by expansion or welding. If extra protection from leaks is required, a double tube plate can be used.

Baffles: The main purpose of baffles is to control the general direction of flow on the housing side.

Housing and Connections: The housing is the envelope of the second fluid or secondary fluid. The casing is generally circular in section and made of a longitudinally welded, cylindrical shaped steel plate. The housing has connections for the input and output of the secondary fluid.

Types of tubular heat exchangers

Depending on its design, the nature of the product and the space available at the destination installation, the tubular heat exchanger can be grouped into three main groups:

• Tube-to-tube heat exchanger
• Ring space heat exchanger
• Multitubular heat exchanger

Advantages of the tubular heat exchanger

The tubular design in heat exchangers represents one of the most traditionally used configurations, due to its good performance and versatility. Among the main advantages of tubular heat exchangers, the following factors should be highlighted:

Low maintenance costs

High working pressures

High operating temperatures

Fibre or particle processing

Great security in aseptic processes

Easy inspection and disassembly

Easy to expand

Tubular Heat Exchanger Applications

The heat exchanger is process equipment used in different industries, and its applications are very diverse and varied.

Pharmaceutical Applications: are those applications intended for the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, where roughness certification plays a key role. Its design is specially designed to avoid cross-contamination of Stainless Steel Instrumentation Fittings.

Industrial Applications: are those applications for the chemical and petrochemical industry, where it is essential to guarantee a long service life and the high reliability of the equipment.