The issue of the operating pressure of the heat exchanger
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I would like to ask everyone why the pressure at the top of the shell side of a heat exchanger is the highest
It’s not the pressure at the top of the heat exchanger that is the highest; rather, it’s the pressure at the top of all containers that is the highest. This is what is meant by operating pressure
Thank you O(∩_∩)O~; maybe I was overthinking it
It’s just my personal opinion, and it’s not necessarily correct: strictly speaking, it’s not the top part that has the highest pressure either, as pressure vessels take into account the gas phase space. Among gas, liquid, and solid phases, the gas phase is naturally located at the top; therefore, the operating pressure is referred to as the pressure at the top, which in my view means the pressure of the gas phase. The area with the highest pressure is likely to be the lowest point, as there may also be hydrostatic pressure from the liquid column.
I just checked the reference materials, and the excerpt is as follows: The standards in various countries specify that the pressure of a pressure vessel refers to the maximum gauge pressure at the top of the vessel, which is determined based on the opening pressure of the discharge device. The pressure at the top of the container can be unaffected by the hydrostatic pressure of the liquid column. If the operating pressure is defined as the pressure in other parts of the container, such as the bottom, then this pressure will vary depending on the density of the medium contained within the container. Defining the highest pressure that can be reached at the top of the container as the operating pressure ensures the uniqueness of the basic parameters.