Selection of heat exchangers for low load applications
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I am currently carrying out selection calculations for a heat exchanger designed for low load conditions. In the design mode, the shell diameter calculated is very small, while the tube length is quite large – it’s even 200% higher than the design value. The flow velocity inside the tubes is also very low. How should such a heat exchanger designed for low load conditions be optimized?
It’s both easy and difficult to choose a heat exchanger for low load applications. It was agreed that a large design margin could be used to ensure good heat exchange performance; even if an area of 20 square meters is required, using equipment designed for 40 square meters will not result in a significant difference in cost. If you try to choose very precisely, you’ll find it very troublesome. It is difficult to ensure that all parameters related to flow rate and pressure drop are appropriate. So it’s better to choose a more conservative option for small devices. Do design patterns merely recommend a device that the software deems suitable, or do you need to adjust the parameters of the heat exchanger to determine the appropriate device?
This post was last edited by wiseboy on 2018-4-20 20:43. Coiled-tube heat exchangers and coil heat exchangers might be the best options, provided you know how to design them—it’s very difficult to use a weapon in modern warfare. Just as someone might try to use plate heat exchangers for every heat exchange task, that certainly won’t work.
Could we try choosing a smaller pipe diameter?
Choose a smaller pipe diameter while increasing the number of tube passes.