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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