Exchanger type selection Experience ofa similar ust operating under similar srocess conditions is the best guide to exchanger type selection and should always be investigatec thoroughly. However, if previous operational experience is not availabe, the following factors must always be considered before type selection is made, Operating pressure and temperature I the operating prescure i below 30 bar and the operating temperature is ‘below 200°C, then the plite-type exchangers must always be given serious consideration and in particular, the gasketed-plate type. At igher [pressures and temperatures, the choice wil be between a shelland-tube Exchanger,» gasketless plate exchanger. and a deublepipe exchanger, the latter being particularly competitive for small-capacity, high-pressure applications, If there is asooling application an air-cooled exchange: may be considered instead of «shell-and-tute exchanger using water as coolant. For all heating duties, an elecically hested exchanger should be ‘considered, paticula:y ifthe proposed heating medium is fouling o: a ‘suitable medium is not availabe. Nature of fluids Ifthe corrosion characteratics of the flids ae especilly aggressive, the high corrosion-resistant erchangers suck as graphite, slass or Teflon™ should be considered, previded pressure, temperature and capacity are rot great. I suitable plate and gasket materials are availabe, the fgasketed-pate type shoul also be eons dered. "The lamella and spiral exchangers minimise the possibility of inter~ stream leakage and for Mids which are highly foaling. or suspensions, slurries or fibrous liquids, these types merit consideration ifthe pressure, temperature and size are within their rmge. If the fuids are also corrosive the graphite, glass or Teflon™ types should be considerec. ‘When dealing wit lethal fuids, particular care must be exercise to ‘ensure thatthe exteraal joins, if any, of the selected exchanger type are fof the aighestintegricy Size range ‘The size range of the selected type may be too stall to meet the recuired uty wichout having a large number of parallel units, leading to expensive pipework and valves, with the possibilty of flow cistribution problems. Cost “This is obviously an important factor but the exchanger type having the lowest capital cost may provide serious frobloms in se-vice and become ‘expensive t0 operate, Each case must be treated individually and it nay bbe necessary f0 design and cost several alternatives belore a devsio.is ‘AL. summarises the features of the various exchanger types,‘Shell and Tube: A large number of small tubs ae contained within a larger shell. The tubes re supported by baffes which proves paritioning ofthe shell to give cross-flow conditions in the shll side fluid. Double Pipe: A single or muliple umber of tubes inside arger pipe (shell). This type cf cecchanger differs fom the shell andtube in that the flow is either counter-flow or parallel -low. Forbes heat traafer performance, counter-lew should be used. ‘Air Cooler: The best example ofthis type of zxterded surface exchangers is the radiator of @ vehicle (except inthis situation the ces acting as te coling thud). eat Pipe: Hect pipss rely onthe evaporation and condensscon of auld withis a sealed sipe 10 transfer heat from one end ofthe pige to the other. Plate Heat Excangsr: The plate leat exchangers the most common type of exchanger end is ‘constructed from plates stacked together. The plates have pastemed surfaces andthe hot and colt fuid’s flow between the plates These exchangers have high heat transfer coeflicients and large sutfacesteas but are limited by presure and temperature considerations Spiral Heat Exchangers: Similar a plate exchanger excep thatthe plates are concentric. ‘Lamdla Exchanger: Similarto Plate exchanger: large formed metal sheets ate welded together ‘p form long flow channels or lamella (laminates), Plates ae then stacked together to give the ‘soni channel. One flow flows within the pte and th ather Nid flows in the space between the pits. Pure coustr-flow cllows reduced Touling and therefore these exchangers are used fer ssspension, slurries and fibrous liquids. Plate Fin: Fabricatel from corrugated plate used on low fl rate and low eapacity situations (ie gs —gas exchange) Embossed Panel: Two metal sheets are welded together arcund he eircumfererce and in predeermined lncations across the surface. The plates are inated by hydraulic pressure to give the inemal flow channel. Pans cas be used individually orn racks. Graphite Heat Fxehanger: The hgh thermal corductvity af gaphite (147 Win), its lowe ‘herrl expansion aad low weight makes it desirable asa meteria for heat exchangers. A. ‘chemcally reaed graphite (tis naurally porous) an be used in shell and wibe er block type exchanger designs. (Block Exchanger, a block is ferforated longitudinally by herizonta rows of holes each alternate layer being used forthe process and service uid respectively.) Glass Its excellent chemical -esistance and smooch surface makes glass ideal fer environments ‘where non-contaminston of fais and regular sterlsation is required. Glass does however have ‘an obvious mechanieal disadvantage and alow thermal conductivity. Often usec in a shell and tubs erangements, ‘Teflon: Extremely sistance to chemical attack, elimination of contamination ef uid and low ling resistance, But has a Foor thermal conduesvity (0.19 Wink ~almest the same asa. ula), Rotary: The ‘heat whee!” or rotary regenerator was originally designed to recover heat from the ute from a combustion chamber [high temperature but atm pressure). A argeslowly orting ‘see ofcoursely katted metal mesh absorbs hea from the aot gs stream and Lien delivers itto ‘cooler gus stream, The electrical energy required to turn the wheel is narmally negligible ‘shen compared tothe energy recovered,