Heat Exchanger:

Tube Sheets

Tube sheets usually constructed from a round, flattened sheet of metal. Holes for the tube ends are teen drilled for the tube ends in a pattern relative to each other. Tube sheets are typically manufactured from the same material as tubes, and attached with a pneumatic or hydraulic pressure roller to the tube sheet. At this point, tube holes can both be drilled and reamed, or they are machined grooves (this significantly increases tube joint strength) (figure A).

Figure A. Machined grooves in the tube will increase joint strength.

The tube sheet comes in contact with both fluids in the exchanger, therefore it must be constructed of corrosion resistant materials or allowances appropriate for the fluids and velocities. A layer of alloy metal bonded to the surface of a low carbon steel tube sheet would provide an effective corrosion resistance without the expense of manufacturing from a solid alloy.

The tube-hole pattern, often called ‘pitch’, varies the distance between tubes as well as the angle relative to each other allowing the pressure drop and fluid velocities to be manipulated in order to provide max turbulence and tube surface contact for effective heat transfer.

Tube and tube sheet materials are joined with weld-able metals, and often further strengthened by applying strength or seal weld to the joint. Typically in a strength weld, a tube is recessed slightly inside the tube hole or slightly beyond the tube sheet whereas the weld adds metal to the resulting edge. Seal welds are specified when intermixing of tube liquids is needed, this is accomplished whereas the tube is level with the tube sheet surface. The weld fuses the two materials together, adding no metal in the process. When it becomes critical to avoid the intermixing of fluid, a second tube sheet is designed in. In this case, the outer tube sheet becomes the outside the shell path, and the inner tube sheet is vented to atmosphere, so that a fluid leak can be detected easily effectively eliminating any chance of cross contamination.

Bonnets and End Channels

Bonnets / end channels regulate the flow of fluid in the tube-side circuit, they are typically fabricated or cast. They are mounted against the tube sheet with a bolt and gasket assembly; many designs include a ‘machine grooved’ channel in the tube sheet sealing the joint.

If one or more passes are intended, the head may include pass ribs that direct flow through the tube bundle (figure C). Pass ribs are aligned on either end to provide effective fluid velocities through an equal number of tubes at a time ensuring a constant, even fluid velocity and pressure drop throughout the bundle.

Figure C. Heads contain pass ribs that direct flow on the tube-side fluid for one or more passes across the tube bundle.

Shell and tube configurations with up to (4) passes are the most common, however specialty designs do allow 20 or more crossings. The tube sheet configuration in a multi-pass shell and tube design must have provisions for the pass ribs, requiring either removal of tubes to allow a low cost straight pass rib or alternately a pass rib with curves around the tubes adding cost to the manufacture process. When a full bundle count is needed for the thermal requirement, machine pass ribs usually prevent the need to ‘upsize’ to the next larger shell diameter.

The material used in the cast bonnets / heads used in smaller diameters (ie 15” or less) are typically, poured from iron, steel, bronze, Hastelloy, nickel plated, or stainless steel. Pipe connections are normally NPT, others including SAE, tri-clamp, ASME flanged, BSPP, and others types are available.

Baffles

Baffles function in two ways, during assembly they function as tube guides, in operation they prevent vibration from flow induced eddies, last but most importantly they direct shell-side fluids across the bundle increasing velocity and turbulence effectively increasing the rate of heat transfer.
All baffles must have diameter slightly smaller than the shell in order to fit, however tolerances must be tight enough to avoid a performance loss as a result of fluid bypass around the baffles. This is where the concept of ‘shell roundness’ is of up most importance in sealing off the otherwise would be bypass around the baffle.

Baffles are usually stamped / punched, or machined drilled; such configurations vary based on size and application. Material selection must be compatible with the shell side fluid to avoid failure as a result of corrosion. It is not uncommon for some punched baffle designs to include a lip around the tube hole to provide more surfaces against the tube to reduce wear on the adjoining parts. Tube holes must be precisely manufactured to allow easy assembly and possible field tube replacement, all the while minimizing fluid flow through the hole and against the tube wall.

In typical liquid applications, baffles occupy between 20-30% of the shell diameter; whereas in a gas application with a necessary lower pressure drop, baffles with 40-45% of shell diameter are used (figure D). Baffle placement requires an overlap at one or more tubes in a row to provide adequate tube support. Additionally baffles are spaced evenly throughout the shell to aid in reducing pressure drop and even fluid velocity.

Figure C. Heads contain pass ribs that direct flow on the tube-side fluid for one or more passes across the tube bundle.

In a 'single-segmental’ configuration, baffles move fluid or gas across the full tube count. When high velocity gases are present, this configuration would result in excessive pressure loss thus calling fourth a ‘double-segmental’ layout. In a ‘double-segmental’ arrangement, structural effectiveness is retained, yet allowing gas to flow in a straighter overall direction. While this configuration takes full advantage of the full available tube surface, a reduction in heat transfer performance should be expected.