Question

What is the process occurring inside the Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger and what is the driving force?

Answer 1

The shell and tube heat exchanger is used to exchange heat from a high temperature fluid (hot fluid) to low temperature fluid (cold fluid). The process of heat transfer occurs in shell and tube heat exchanger with indirect contact of fluid. The Shell is a large cross sectional pipe in which we attach several tubes with the help of plates. The arrangement is such that one fluid passes through Shell side( outer area of tube ) while the other fluid passes within the tube so the heat exchange occur with the result of indirect contact. In shell we also attach some baffles to increase turbulance hence heat transfer coefficient of shell side. The advantage of shell and tube heat exhcanger over the double pipe heat exhcanger is that it provides higher heat transfer area in very compact design. The driving force in the shell and tube heat exchanger is temperature difference between the two fluid.

The diagram of shell and tube heat exhcanger is attached as follows