SHELL & TUBE

Shell & Tube
Heat Exchanger.

A Shell and Tube is the most common type of heat exchanger used in applications that require higher pressures and temperatures. Consisting of a tube bundle inside a shell, this basic design is heavy duty, rugged and durable. The system is simple, two fluids of different temperatures are circulated through the heat exchanger. One fluid flows through the tubes while another fluid flows over the tubes providing an optimum and efficient heat transfer.

Advantages of a Shell & Tube

Application

Higher pressure and temperature options available

Design

Basic, heavy duty, rugged and durable

Lifespan

Average life is 15-20 years; however it is
not uncommon to be in service for over 30 years

Economical

Typically less expensive than other types of
heat exchangers including a plate and frame

Main Components of a Shell & Tube

The tubes are typically copper or stainless steel with a ¾" or 5/8" outside diameter, while the remaining components are usually manufactured from milled steel.

Tie rods (circular metal rods) and spacers hold the tube bundle together while holding the baffles in the correct position. The tie rods are fastened into the tube sheet then secured at the farthest baffle. The number of tie rods, baffles and tubes depends on shell diameter and required application.

Applications (Shell & Tube)

Food & Beverage

(Breweries, Dairy, Fruit, Vegetable)

Pasteurization
Sterilization
Evaporation
UHT Treatment
Reception Thermization
Wort Boiling

Industrial

(Automotive, Mining, Pulp & Paper, Sugar)

Water Heating/Cooling
Demineralization
Evaporation
Economizing
Heat Recovery
Quench Oil Cooling
Caustic Solution Heating

Energy

(Biofuels, Nuclear, Renewable Power, Oil & Gas)

Heat Recovery
Geothermal
Quench Coolers
Lubrication Oil Cooling
Corrosive Fluid Heating/Cooling
Crude Oil Heating
Diesel Engine Cooling
Auxiliary Cooling

Chemical & Pharmaceutical

(Fertilizers, Petrochemicals, Inorganic Chemicals)

Solvent Heating
Glycol Cooling
Reactor Cooling
Extraction
Fermentation
Fragmentation
Methanation

Commercial HVAC

(Hospitals, Condominiums, Shopping Centers)

Domestic Water Heating
Swimming Pool Heating
Free Cooling
Cooling Tower Isolation
Heat Pump Systems
Heat Recovery
Thermal Storage Systems

Marine

(Container Vessels, Bulk Carriers, Barges)

Lube Oil Cooling
Auxiliary Power Generation System
Jacket Water Cooling
Central Cooling
Seawater Isolation Exchanger
Engine Oil Cooling
Ventilation Coolers and Heaters

Common Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger Designs

Potential Issues with a Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger

When vacuum breakers or thermostatic vents are not installed or functional the tube can be sucked in and break.
If the bundle is subjected to temperature extremes (thermal shock), the tubes will develop spiral cracks.
On steam applications, harmonics can occur. This constant vibration can cause the steel
Chemical corrosion resulting from interaction between the heat exchanger and the circulated fluids.
Marine film or coating on tubes such as scale, mud, algae and zebra mussels plugging tubes, this results in higher corrosion and restricts heat flow.