Principles for determining the flow path of materials in a tube heat exchanger: tube side and shell side

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Principle for the flow of fluids in shell-and-tube heat exchangers: Fluids that are dirty or prone to scaling should flow through the tube side, as cleaning inside the tubes is easier； ?(2) Corrosive fluids should be passed through the tube side, to prevent both the tube bundle and the shell from being corroded, as well as to facilitate cleaning and maintenance ； (3) Fluids with high pressure should flow in the tube side to prevent the shell from being under pressure simultaneously ； ?(4) Toxic fluids should be routed in the tube side to reduce the risk of leaks ； ?(5) The cooled fluid should flow through the shell side, which facilitates heat dissipation and enhances the cooling effect ； ?(6) Saturated steam should flow through the shell side, as this facilitates the removal of condensate and non-condensable gases, and the steam remains clean without being contaminated ； ?(7) Fluids with low flow rates or high viscosity are better suited for use in the shell side, as the baffles allow turbulence to be achieved at low Reynolds numbers (Re＞100); however, multiple tube passes can also be employed inside the tubes ； ?(8) If there is a large temperature difference between the two fluids, it is advisable to let the fluid with a higher α (heat transfer coefficient) flow in the shell side, thereby reducing the temperature difference between the tube wall and the shell wall.