Lesson 9 - Heat Exchangers SAQ
This lesson allows you to test yourself on the material covered in the Heat Exchangers lesson and determine the level to which you have met the learning outcomes.
Suggested Response - Q5
* Select which of the below statements are true. In a shell and tube heat exchanger, the purpose of the tubesheet is to:
a) Increase the heat transfer surface area
b) Hold the tubes in position
c) Separate the shell and tube side fluids
d) Improve shell side fluid turbulence
Response:
The purpose of the tubesheet is to b) hold the tubes in position and c) separate the shell and tube side fluids.
The answers a) and d) are not correct. In theory, there is some heat transfer that occurs across the tubesheet, but this is very minimal and it is not the main purpose of the tubesheet. Furthermore, the tubesheet has no impact on fluid turbulence.