Should a shell-and-tube heat exchanger be insulated?
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The equipment contains a shell-and-tube heat exchanger, with cooling water (10°C) flowing in the shell side and process flue gas (80°C) flowing in the tube side. Is it necessary to insulate the exterior of this heat exchanger?
I don’t know. How are the winter temperatures where you are? If there is no risk of freezing, it is not necessary to provide insulation; just ensuring corrosion protection is sufficient
The shell side is filled with cooling water at 10°C, while the tube side contains process flue gas at 80°C. Insulation is required for the shell side, and thermal insulation is needed for the end caps
Won’t the cold energy be lost in summer if water at 10 degrees is not insulated?
Insulation is not necessary; remember to drain the water when it’s not in use in winter. Prevents freezing.
Consider each case separately: 1. If it is outdoors and freeze protection is necessary, insulation should be provided. 2. If the waste heat obtained from heat exchange with flue gas needs to be utilized, insulation is required. 3. If the purpose is merely to cool the flue gas, without any need to reuse the waste heat and without any requirement for freeze protection, then insulation is not necessary.
The temperature for heat exchange calculations is 10°C; without insulation, significant heat loss occurs in summer, and the designed performance cannot be achieved.
Why doesn’t the circulating water flow through the tube side? Isn’t circulating water prone to scaling?
Water is used to cool the flue gas, right? The residual heat from the flue gas has little practical value; there’s no need to deal with it indoors. It generally isn’t necessary to turn it on in winter either – just ensure proper drainage is in place
10℃ cooling water; the shell side needs to be insulated to prevent exposure to sunlight in summer, while the tube side does not require insulation