In the last few years, the heat exchanger market has recorded significant growth. Studies show that the heat transfer market will exceed 19.14 billion dollars by 2021. This is a significant growth in the industry that indicates more than 8.2% annual growth. Therefore, if you don’t have any background information about this industry, it is important to get a grasp of some of the major components in the heating industry.
Some of the important components to understand in this industry is the shell and tube heat exchanger
Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger
Shell and tube heat exchangers have for many years been considered as some of the most effective types of heat exchangers in various parts of the world. They have some of the most important components that have, for many years, been involved in heat transfer. The bundle of tubes and the cylindrical shell are essential components of the entire system. It is important to record that most of the materials used in the shell and tube heat exchanger have thermal conductivity mechanisms.
How Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Works
The system works by exchanging heat between the cooler fluid inside the tubes and the hotter fluid outside the tubes. Heat is transferred between the thermal conductive tubes. It is important to highlight that the shell and tube heat exchanger provides one of the most effective thermal management systems out there in the world. This explains why the system is currently being used in various applications such as industrial cooling, rail systems, marine, leisure, and hydraulic cooling.
It is important to highlight that the shell and tube heat exchangers cannot be used in small heat transfer systems. It is mostly preferred in the systems that require huge comprehensive heating and cooling. It is important to record that a large volume of gases and fluids must be involved in the entire system for effective results. This explains why there are multiple heating and cooling systems that have been designed to meet the needs of various industries.
Important Parts of the Heat Exchanger
In any industrial system out there in the world, several important parts play a central role in the application of the system. Here are some of the most important parts of the shell and tube heat exchanger that helps the system to work effectively.
1. Tube Bundle
The tube bundle is probably the most important system in the entire cooling and heating system. It has thermal conductivity property, which allows it to pass heat from one fluid to the other. It provides the medium through which the fluid travels and where the heat is exchanged as well. Without the tube bundle, shell and tube heat exchangers will not work. It is important to highlight that the tube bundle is included in the shell.
2. Front Header
Front and rear headers are other important components of the system that play a central role in the overall working of the entire heat exchanger system. The front header provides the medium where the fluid enters the tube bundle for the exchange of heat to take place. Any standard exchange must have a front header, which is commonly referred to as a stationary header. Without this part, there is no fluid entering the heat exchanger.
3. Rear Header
On the other hand, the rear header is part of the tube where the fluid leaves the heat exchanger. The rear header removes the fluid from the system if it has been heated or cooled, depending on what the purpose was. However, if the original purpose of passing the fluid through the system is not achieved, the fluid is returned to the front header by the rear header.
Shell and tube heat exchanger is an essential system in the cooling and heating system. It is highly preferred in the industrial applications because it can cool a hydraulic system, condense or evaporate any steam or liquid, among other important roles in the cooling and heating industry.
