Heat exchanger shell and tube side issues
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This facility is equipped with several liquid ring vacuum pumps, which use chlorobenzene as the working medium. The coolers for these liquid ring pumps are of the tubular type, and they are cooled using circulating water during the production process. Currently, the circulating water flows through the shell side, while chlorobenzene flows through the tube side. I wonder if changing this arrangement would improve the heat exchange efficiency. Additionally, what are the requirements regarding the flow of fluids through the shell and tube sides of the heat exchanger?
Reply to 1# yk1126: Currently, the circulating water flows through the shell side, while chlorobenzene flows through the tube side; this is likely due to safety considerations. If the positions are swapped, the heat exchange efficiency would be better. The main reason for having chlorobenzene flow through the tube side is its toxicity and flammability, so the designers chose that arrangement. If the heat exchange efficiency is not satisfactory, it is possible to swap the positions '
If it’s as mentioned above, and based on the actual conditions at the production site, it’s necessary to reverse the direction, since there is a high level of chlorobenzene in the cofferdam at the site. . .
Whether swapping the tube side and shell side of a heat exchanger improves heat transfer depends mainly on whether the flow rate of the fluid in the tube side changes; if the flow rate increases, the heat transfer coefficient rises, which in turn enhances heat transfer.
The design gives top priority to safety; for the shell side, ordinary materials are sufficient as long as they can withstand the required water pressure. Switching to a different cooling method may not be ideal, as per the formula, the heat transfer rate is related to the heat transfer resistance coefficient and area over time. Using chlorobenzene in the tube side helps increase the flow rate and reduce heat transfer resistance, thereby achieving forced heat exchange
It’s quite simple: the water quality in closed-loop systems is relatively hard, and scaling and blockages can occur if the flow takes place through the pipe network; however, this problem does not exist with chlorobenzene； Furthermore, in terms of heat transfer efficiency, it is clear that water flowing through the shell layer yields better results