How is it determined who will use the tube side and who will use the shell side in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger?

It’s not that simple; many factors need to be taken into account:

It’s not that simple; many factors need to be taken into account: Fluids suitable for use in pipes: 1) Fluids that are dirty and prone to scaling, as cleaning the inside of the pipes is then easier； 2) Corrosive fluids, as it prevents simultaneous corrosion of the pipes and the housing, and the pipes are easy to clean and maintain ； 3) Fluids with high pressure, as it allows for the use of less casing material ； 4) Toxic fluids, as it can reduce the chances of leaks. Media suitable for use in the shell side: 1) Saturated steam, as it facilitates the timely removal of condensate, and the steam is relatively clean, making cleaning easier ； 2) The cooled fluid benefits from the heat dissipation provided by the housing, thereby enhancing the cooling effect ； 3) Fluids with high viscosity or low flow rates, as the flow is influenced by the baffle plates, which can increase the convective heat transfer coefficient ； 4) For heat exchangers with rigid structures, if there is a large temperature difference between the two fluids, placing the medium with a higher convective heat transfer coefficient on the shell side can reduce thermal stress.

You answered your own question, well done. Thank you for sharing the knowledge!

Bro, this method of cheating for points is deadly!

Learned*:lol:victory:

Ask and answer questions, share knowledge; setting it as a question per day is a good idea