Exchanger Tubes

The Basic Components 

Exchanger tubes can be referred to as the most commonly utilized primary heat exchanger configuration in the industrial process. There are several reasons for this. They tend to offer huge ratio of area for heat transfer to volume and weight. The surface is provided in a manner that’s easy to design in a huge range of sizes.

There are several modifications that can be made in the primary configuration in order to bring out solutions to major problems.

Exchanger tubes can also be cleaned easily. The best part is that the components vulnerable to failure such as gaskets or tubes can be easily replaced.

Components of Exchanger tubes:

• Tubes: The tubes are known to be one of the basic components of heat exchangers. The tubes work towards providing good transfer of heat surface amidst a fluid type flowing inside the tube and the other flowing across the outer part of the tube. The tubes can be either welded or seamless. Usually, these are constructed of steel or copper alloys. Other alloys may also be used for varied applications such as titanium, nickel, aluminum etc.

• Tube sheets: These are used to hold the tubes in their respective places. The tube sheets have holes and the tubes can be easily inserted to these holes via expanding holes or welding into the tube sheet. The tube sheet is actually a round metal plate. The holes are drilled into the sheet. The sheet may also be grooved to hold the tubes.

• Tube side channels and nozzles: These function towards controlling the tube-side fluid inside and outside the Exchanger tubes. The tube side fluid is known to be more corrosive. Hence, these tube side channels and nozzles are constructed of alloy materials. This also facilitates compatibility with tubes and tube sheets.

• Channel covers: These are round plates that tend to bolt to the channel flanges and can be easily removed for easy inspection without interfering the tube-side piping. Flanged nozzles or threaded bonnets are used in smaller exchangers.

• Pass divider: This is required in exchanger tubes that consist of two tube side passes. The divider is required in both bonnets and channels. When it comes to multiple pass exchanger tubes, the pass divider arrangement is arbitrary. This is to provide almost the same amount of tubes in every pass.

• Baffles: These are utilized to serve dual purposes. These work towards supporting the tubes, in the proper place during assembly as well as operation. The other function is to prevent tube vibration produced by flow-induced eddies. These also guide the flow of shell side forward and backward the field of tube thereby, increasing the heat transfer co-efficiency and velocity.

Exchanger tubes are very efficient and cost effective. No wonder these are widely accepted by people all across the globe.

There are several other benefits of exchanger tubes. All these benefits, easy installation and cost effectiveness make them a popular choice among consumers all over the world.

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