Kuorivaihtimet

Kuorivaihtimet, also known as shell-and-tube heat exchangers, are a common type of industrial heat exchanger. They are used in a wide variety of applications to transfer heat between two fluids. The basic design consists of a bundle of tubes enclosed within a cylindrical shell. One fluid flows through the tubes, while the other fluid flows around the outside of the tubes within the shell. The tube walls act as the barrier for heat transfer.

The design allows for efficient heat exchange because of the large surface area provided by the tubes. The fluids can be liquids or gases. The shell and tube design is versatile and can be adapted for different pressures and temperatures. They are often used in chemical processing, oil refining, power generation, and refrigeration systems.

There are various configurations of shell-and-tube heat exchangers, differing in the arrangement of tubes, the path of the shell-side fluid, and the number of passes for both fluids. These variations are chosen based on the specific heat transfer requirements, pressure drops, and fouling tendencies of the fluids involved. Maintenance and cleaning are important considerations for shell-and-tube exchangers, as fouling can reduce their efficiency over time. Despite their complexity in some designs, they remain a robust and widely adopted solution for industrial heat transfer needs.