heat exchangers comparision

HEAT EXCHANGERS COMPARISON Heat exchanger type

Maximum pressure

Temperature range

Fluid limitation

Normal size ranges for individual unit

Air-cooled

High on process side (500 bar).

High temperature possible on process side (up to 600°C).

Subject only to material of construction.

Shell-and-tube

300 bar (shell). 1400 bar (tube).

25 to 600°C (lower and higher with special materials).

Subject only to materials of construction.

10 to 1000 m2 (per shell multiple shells can be used).

Very adaptable and can be used for nearly all applications.

1 to 10 m2 .

Modular construction.not easily cleaned.

Special features

5 to 350 m2 (bare tube) (per bundle multiple bundles often used).

Heat rejection system. Requires fans. Tubes normally finned.

Brazed-plate

16 bar

Up to 200°C.

Suitable for liquids compatible with braze material.

Double-pipe (plain and finned tubes)

300 bar (shell) (higher pressures possible with special design). 1400 bar (tube).

100 to 600°C (higher with special materials).

Subject only to materials of construction.

0.25 to 200 m2 per unit multiple units are often used.

High thermal efficiency, standard modular construction.

Up to 700°C.

Subject only to materials of construction.

3 to 650 kW. Multiple units used for larger capacity.

Special control systems can be used to minimise impact on electrical supply.

c. 1 bar

Up to 250°C.

Low pressure, suitable for corrosive fluids.

20 bar

50°C to 165°C.

Corrosion resistant unless fluid attacks resin.

0.2 to 60 m2.

High corrosion resistance.

Up to 400°C

Subject only to materials of construction. Often used for fouling duties.

Up to 200 m2.

High heat transfer efficiency. Cylindrical geometry useful as integral part of distillation tower.

Electric tubular heat exchangers

Glass-tube

Graphite

Spiral

300 bar

18 bar

Stainless steel often used in structure.

Heat exchanger type

Maximum pressure

Temperature range

Fluid limitation

Heat-pipe

Near atmospheric.

1000 m2

Differential pressure should be less than 30 bar. Differential expansion should be borne in mind.

Scraped- surface

Welded-plate

10 bar.

60 bar (higher in shells).

Low fouling.

Stainless steel often used in structure.

1 to 2500 m2

Modular construction. Normally the most economical if applicable.