Lesson 8 - Heat Exchangers

We are now ready to explore the inside of the shell and tube heat exchanger to see how it works. First, we will look at how fluid flows inside the exchanger and then at how a desired flow configuration can be achieved in the design.

To help us understand the fluid flow in a shell and tube heat exchanger, let’s begin by looking at a video clip.

Please take a moment to view the video in the link below and consider how the two fluids flow through the exchanger. Note, this is for illustrative purposes only and is not a recommendation or endorsement of the supplier’s product.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZV8MgZ0Yiw

The video first shows one fluid entering the shell side of the exchanger. It passes up and down over the baffles and around the outside of the tube bundle. It then exits through the shell outlet port. We call this fluid the shell-side fluid.

The video then shows a second fluid entering the exchanger through the inlet header end and forced into and through the tubes. This fluid exits through the outlet header end. We call this the tube-side fluid.

As you can see, heat is transferred from the tube-side fluid to the shell-side fluid through the tube walls. The tube-side fluid cools down through the exchanger, and the shell-side fluid warms up. In brewing applications, the tube-side fluid is usually wort or beer, and the shell-side fluid is the utilities fluid. The utilities fluid can be a liquid or gas.

Look again at the video clip showing fluid flow through a shell and tube exchanger. What do you notice about the direction of the flow?

Give yourself 5-10 mins to think about this and then click ‘Next’ and continue with this lesson.