Industrial Heat Exchanger – Efficient Thermal Transfer

1. Introduction

 

A Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier can offer heat exchanger products for heating, cooling, condensing and heat recovery purposes.

 

Shell and tube heat exchanger contains tube bundle inside the shell.

 

The fluid flow inside the tube and outside of the tube.

 

There will be heat exchange through the tube wall with both fluids kept separate.

 

Shell and tube heat exchanger can be used for various industrial purposes.

 

Such as chemical, petrochemical, power plant, air conditioning, marine and process industries.

 

When choosing a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier there are things you need to consider.

 

You need a supplier that knows your process requirement and know what type of configuration, material and test you need.

 

In this article we will go through what to look for when finding a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier.

 

2. What Is a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier?

 

As stated above a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier can provide shell and tube heat exchanger according to customer requirement.

 

Some suppliers will be able to provide heat exchanger that they have manufactured themselves.

 

Some suppliers will have their own manufacturer and provide heat exchanger along with other services such as engineering, supply, inspection and shipping.

 

Here are some of the things that a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide.

 

  • Heat Exchanger

 

  • Custom heat exchanger

 

  • Heat exchanger replacement

 

  • Finned tube heat exchanger

 

  • Tube bundle

 

  • Spare part

 

  • Technical support

 

  • Installation support

 

For most industrial application you need to know the process requirement.

 

What is the heat transfer required, fluid flowing through the heat exchanger, flow rate, inlet and outlet temperature and pressure.

 

By knowing this your shell and tube heat exchanger supplier will be able to give you the right configuration.

 

Industrial Heat Exchanger

 

3. What Can a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier Provide?

 

There are many things a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide.

 

Engineering

 

Your supplier can help you with your process requirement and suggest the best heat exchanger for your application.

 

Design

 

Your shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide design service for heat exchanger.

 

Materials

 

There are many materials that can be used for shell and tube heat exchanger. Depending on the fluid that you have passing through your heat exchanger.

 

Manufacture

 

Your shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide you heat exchanger that was manufacture in their factory or another factory that they have contract with.

 

Inspection and Testing

 

A shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide material inspection and testing on your equipment.

 

Shipping

 

Once your heat exchanger is finished and pass all inspection it can be packed and shipped to you.

 

Technical Support

 

Depending on the supplier you are working with they may provide installation and commissioning support.

 

4. Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Design and Customization

 

When looking for a shell and tube heat exchanger there are many factor you need to take into consideration.

 

Heat Transfer Area

 

Based on the process requirement your heat exchanger will require certain amount of heat transfer area.

 

Just because your heat exchanger has large heat transfer area doesn’t mean that the heat exchanger will perform better.

 

There are many things that needs to be taken into consideration such as pressure drop, velocity and fouling.

 

Tube Diameter

 

There are many sizes of tube that can be used for heat exchanger. Depending on your process you should use the appropriate size.

 

Tube Length

 

Similar to tube diameter you should know how long your tube should be. This will affect how much heat transfer area you can get from your heat exchanger.

 

However there are factor that need to be taken into consideration such as installation space and pressure drop.

 

Tube Arrangement

 

Depending on the tube arrangement you can affect the performance of your heat exchanger.

 

Tube Pass

 

By using more pass you can increase your tube side velocity and affect your heat transfer.

 

Baffle

 

Baffle can be use to deflect the shell side flow over the tube. They can also support the tube. So when designing a heat exchanger you need to know what type of baffle to use.

 

Nozzle Size and Position

 

Make sure your heat exchanger has the right nozzle size and position to fit your piping.

 

5. How is a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Made?

 

When working with a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier you want them to have a good manufacturing process.

 

Every equipment will have a different manufacturing process depending on the configuration of your heat exchanger.

 

But here are the general step that will be used to make a shell and tube heat exchanger.

 

Step 1 Engineering

 

Your supplier will look at your process requirement and determine what type of heat exchanger you need.

 

Step 2 Prepare Material

 

Your supplier will prepare all material that will be used for the heat exchanger. Such as shell material, tube, tube sheet, baffle etc.

 

Step 3 Make Shell

 

After preparing your shell material your supplier will fabricate the shell for your heat exchanger.

 

Step 4 Machine Tube Sheet

 

Your supplier will machine the tube sheet with the right amount of tube hole. Depending on what tube arrangement you have on your heat exchanger.

 

Step 5 Assemble Tube Bundle

 

Once you have your tube sheet you can insert your tube into the tube sheet. You can also insert your baffle and support plate around the tube bundle.

 

Step 6 Attach Tube to Tube Sheet

 

Your tube will need to be attached to the tube sheet. There are many way that can be done depending on your design.

 

Step 7 Assemble Tube Bundle to Shell

 

After attaching your tube to the tube sheet you can install your tube bundle into the shell. Then install your channel head, channel cover, gasket and other component.

 

Step 8 Inspection and Testing

 

Once your heat exchanger is assembled you can inspect and test your heat exchanger. After that it can be shipped to the customer.

 

6. What are the Different Types of Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger?

 

There are many different types of shell and tube heat exchanger that a supplier can provide.

 

Fixed Tube Sheet Heat Exchanger

 

A fixed tube sheet heat exchanger has tube sheet that is attach to the shell. It is commonly used when your shell side is not prone to fouling.

 

U Tube Heat Exchanger

 

U tube heat exchanger has tube that is bent to form a u shape. This can allow your heat exchanger to expand when there is temperature difference.

 

Floating Head Heat Exchanger

 

A floating head heat exchanger will allow the tube bundle to move inside the shell. This can allow for expansion and can help when maintaining the tube bundle.

 

Single Pass Heat Exchanger

 

Single pass heat exchanger will only have one pass through the tube bundle.

 

Multi Pass Heat Exchanger

 

Multi pass heat exchanger can have multiple pass through the tube bundle. By having multiple pass you can increase your tube side velocity.

 

Finned Tube Heat Exchanger

 

By adding fins on your tube you can increase your outside heat transfer area. If your shell side fluid has low heat transfer value you can use finned tube heat exchanger.

 

Finned Tube Heat Exchanger

 

7. What Material is Used for Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger?

 

There are many material that can be used for shell and tube heat exchanger. You need to know what material is best for your application.

 

Carbon Steel

 

Carbon steel is commonly used for heat exchanger. It has good strength and can be cheap depending on your application.

 

Stainless Steel

 

Stainless steel can provide better corrosion resistance than carbon steel. It can be used for application that involves water, chemical or food.

 

Copper

 

Copper is a material that has high heat transfer value. If your application require high heat transfer value you can use copper for your heat exchanger.

 

Aluminium

 

Aluminium can be used for heat exchanger as it is light weight and have good heat transfer value.

 

Nickel Alloy

 

Depending on your application you can use nickel alloy for your heat exchanger. There are many type of nickel alloy you can use for your heat exchanger.

 

8. What are Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Used For?

 

There are many application that use shell and tube heat exchanger.

 

Chemical Industry

 

Chemical plant can use heat exchanger to heat up, cool down, condense and evaporate fluid.

 

Petrochemical Industry

 

There are many process in a refinery that use heat exchanger to heat up and cool down fluid.

 

Oil and Gas

 

Similar to refinery you can use heat exchanger to heat up and cool down fluid.

 

Power Plant

 

Power plant can use heat exchanger for cooling purpose and to produce steam.

 

Air Conditioning

 

Shell and tube heat exchanger can be used for air conditioning system to produce chilled water and hot water.

 

Marine

 

Marine vessel can use heat exchanger to cool down the engine.

 

Food Industry

 

There are many heat exchanger that can be used for food application to heat up or cool down product.

 

Heat Recovery

 

You can use heat exchanger to recover heat from one process and transfer it to another process.

 

9. What Should You Look For When Finding a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier?

 

When finding a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier there are some things you should look for.

 

Engineering

 

You want to find a supplier that can provide you engineering service. They should be able to look at your process and tell you what type of heat exchanger you need.

 

Manufacturer

 

You should ask if your supplier manufacture their own heat exchanger or not. If they don’t manufacture their own heat exchanger who will be responsible for the quality control.

 

Customize Heat Exchanger

 

Does your supplier allow you to customize your heat exchanger. You should be able to change the material of your tube, shell, length of your tube and diameter of your tube. You should also be able to change the number of pass, baffle, nozzle size and position.

 

Material

 

You want to find a supplier that can provide you with the right material for your application. Especially if your fluid is corrosive.

 

Quality Control

 

Make sure your supplier can provide quality control on your heat exchanger. They should be able to inspect your material and test your heat exchanger.

 

After Sales Service

 

Some supplier will provide you after sales service such as installation and commissioning.

 

Communication

 

Last but not least you want to find a supplier that you can communicate with easily. So that there is no miscommunication when it comes to your process requirement.

 

10. Custom Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

 

There are many reason why you would need a custom heat exchanger. Maybe you don’t have enough space to install your heat exchanger. Your supplier can help you by shortening the length of your shell or reducing the diameter.

 

You may also have corrosive fluid that need to use a certain type of material.

 

Here are some things that you can customize on your heat exchanger.

 

  • Heat Transfer Area

 

  • Shell Diameter

 

  • Length of Tube

 

  • Diameter of Tube

 

  • Tube Pitch

 

  • Tube Arrangement

 

  • Pass

 

  • Baffle

 

  • Material

 

  • Position of Nozzle

 

By knowing your process requirement your supplier will be able to provide you the best heat exchanger for your application.

 

 

 

 

11. Quality Control for Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

 

When buying a heat exchanger from a supplier you want to make sure that they can provide quality control on your equipment.

 

Material Inspection

 

Your supplier should be able to inspect your material to make sure that they are the correct material. They should also provide you with material certificate.

 

Dimension

 

Your supplier should be able to measure your shell, length of your tube and position of your tube and nozzle.

 

Weld Inspection

 

If your heat exchanger has any weld your supplier should be able to inspect it.

 

Tube Inspection

 

Your supplier should be able to inspect your tube and make sure there is no defect.

 

Test

 

Your supplier should be able to test your heat exchanger to make sure there is no leak.

 

After all inspection is done your supplier can ship your heat exchanger to you.

 

12. Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier and Manufacturer

 

Many people think that a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier and manufacturer are the same.

 

As we mentioned above a supplier may or may not be the manufacturer. Here is a comparison of a supplier and manufacturer.

 

Factor

Supplier

Manufacturer

Equipment sourcing

May source from factories

Produces equipment

Engineering support

Depends on company

Usually directly available

Customization

Depends on supply chain

Often more direct

Factory communication

May be indirect

Direct

Quality control

May coordinate inspection

Controls production

After-sales support

Depends on agreement

Often factory-supported

 

Both can be beneficial depending on your application. If you need a standard heat exchanger you may want to buy from a supplier. If you need a custom heat exchanger you may want to buy from a manufacturer.

 

13. How Much Does it Cost to Buy a Heat Exchanger from a Supplier?

 

There are many factor that will affect the cost of your heat exchanger.

 

Material

 

The material you choose will play a big role in the cost of your heat exchanger. Stainless steel will be more expensive than carbon steel.

 

Heat Transfer Area

 

If you need a larger heat transfer area you will need more tube which will increase the cost of your heat exchanger.

 

Type of Heat Exchanger

 

If you need a multi pass or floating head heat exchanger it will cost more than a single pass fixed tube sheet heat exchanger.

 

Tube Material

 

If you need to use a special material for your tube it will increase the cost of your heat exchanger.

 

Test

 

If you need additional testing done on your heat exchanger it will increase the cost.

 

Customization

 

If you need to customize your heat exchanger it will cost more.

 

Shipping

 

Shipping cost will depend on where you are located and the size of your heat exchanger.

 

So when asking for a quote from a supplier make sure you know what you need. Don’t just look at the price of your heat exchanger.

 

14. Why Choose Bangwin Thermal as your Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier?

 

Bangwin Thermal can provide you with heat exchanger and fin tube product for your application.

 

We can provide you with different type of fin tube that can be used for heat exchanger.

 

  • High Frequency Welded Fin Tube

 

  • Laser Welded Fin Tube

 

  • Extruded Fin Tube

 

  • G Fin Tube

 

  • L Type Finned Tube

 

  • KL Fin Tube

 

  • Low Fin Tube

 

  • And many more.

 

We can help you with your heat exchanger requirement and provide you the best solution for your application.

 

If you need a heat exchanger for your application contact Bangwin Thermal.

 

 

 

  • Fin Tube Machine

 

  • Spiral Fin Tube Machine

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15. FAQ

 

l What does a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier do?

 

A shell and tube heat exchanger supplier can provide you with heat exchanger and other service. They can provide you with engineering, custom heat exchanger, heat exchanger that they manufactured and test your heat exchanger.

 

l How do I choose a shell and tube heat exchanger supplier?

 

You should choose a supplier that can provide you with engineering, quality control and after sales service. You should also make sure they can customize your heat exchanger if needed.

 

l Can a supplier provide custom heat exchanger?

 

Yes a supplier can provide you with custom heat exchanger. They can change the dimension of your heat exchanger and material that is used.

 

l What do I need to provide to my supplier?

 

You should provide your supplier with your process requirement. Such as heat transfer required, fluid that is flowing through your heat exchanger, inlet and outlet temperature and pressure.

 

l Is a supplier the same as a manufacturer?

 

No a supplier is not the same as a manufacturer. A manufacturer will manufacture their own heat exchanger. A supplier can buy heat exchanger from a manufacturer.

 

l What material can be used for heat exchanger?

 

There are many material that can be used for heat exchanger. Carbon steel, stainless steel, copper, aluminium and nickel alloy are commonly used.

 

l Can I use finned tube for my heat exchanger?

 

Yes you can use finned tube for your heat exchanger. It will increase your outside heat transfer area. But it depends on your application.

 

l How long will my heat exchanger last?

 

Your heat exchanger can last many years if it is maintained properly. It depends on what material you use and your application.

 

l What should I look for when buying a heat exchanger from a supplier?

 

You should look for a supplier that can provide you with engineering, quality control and after sales service. Also make sure they can customize your heat exchanger if needed.

 

16. Conclusion

 

That is everything you need to know when finding a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Supplier.

 

Make sure you find a supplier that can provide you with the right heat exchanger for your application.

 

They should be able to provide you with engineering, quality control and after sales service.

 

If you need a heat exchanger for your application contact Bangwin Thermal.