Tube length, heat exchanger

Tubes Standard heat-exchanger tubing is V4, Yh, V2., Yh, %, 1, IV4, and IV2. in in outside diameter (in X 25.4 = mm). Wall thickness is measured in Birmingham wire gauge (BWG) units. (A comprehensive list of tubing characteristics and sizes is given in section 9, table D-7 of TEMA.) The most commonly used tubes in chemical plants and petroleum refineries are 19- and 25-mm (%- and 1-in) outside diameter. Standard tube lengths are 8, 10, 12, 16, and 20 ft, with 20 ft now the most common (ft x 0.3048 = m). 

Example 3.11 Atmospheric air (p = 0.1 MPa) is to be heated in a tube bundle heat exchanger from 10 °C to 30 °C. The exchanger consists of 4 neighbouring rows and zr rows of tubes aligned one behind the other. The outer diameter of the tubes is 25 mm, their length 1.5m, the longitudinal pitch is the same as the transverse pitch s /d = sq/d = 2. The wall temperature of the tubes is 80 °C with an initial velocity of the air of 4m/s. Calculate the required number zr of tube rows. 

Copper Tubing, for heat exchanger to cool condenser water, 6.4-mm outside diameter, 3-m length. 

If U varies along the tube length or the stream temperature profile is not a smooth curve, then divide the entire tube length into a number of small heat-exchange elements, apply steps (2) through (8) to each element, and sum up the resulting area requitements as follows ... 

Miscellaneous Effects. Depending on individual design characteristics, there are other miscellaneous effects to consider in the determination of the final sizing of a heat exchanger. These include effects of flow maldistribution of both the sheUside and tubeside fluids, stagnant or inactive regions in the tube bundle, and inactive length of the tube in tubesheets. These effects should be individuaUy assessed and appropriate additional areas should be provided. 

The highly exothermic nature of the butane-to-maleic anhydride reaction and the principal by-product reactions require substantial heat removal from the reactor. Thus the reaction is carried out in what is effectively a large multitubular heat exchanger which circulates a mixture of 53% potassium nitrate [7757-79-1/, KNO 40% sodium nitrite [7632-00-0], NaN02 and 7% sodium nitrate [7631-99-4], NaNO. Reaction tube diameters are kept at a minimum 25—30 mm in outside diameter to faciUtate heat removal. Reactor tube lengths are between 3 and 6 meters. The exothermic heat of reaction is removed from the salt mixture by the production of steam in an external salt cooler. Reactor temperatures are in the range of 390 to 430°C. Despite the rapid circulation of salt on the shell side of the reactor, catalyst temperatures can be 40 to 60°C higher than the salt temperature. The butane to maleic anhydride reaction typically reaches its maximum efficiency (maximum yield) at about 85% butane conversion. Reported molar yields are typically 50 to 60%. 

The location of exchangers is the key to maintenance. Usually the back head is kept at a distance of about three meters from the piperack support columns. Access equipment must be able to get in and remove the sheU cover and flange head. Access area must also be provided to handle and remove the sheU cover usually located under the piperack. The tube-pulling or rodding-out area must be kept clear to allow access to the channel end. This space should be at least equal to the tube length and about two meters from the tube sheet location. Tube removal space should be allowed for but is not mandatory if grade-mounted heat exchangers are used and mobile maintenance equipment employed to pick up the entire unit and transfer it to the repair shop. 

Variables It is possible to identify a large number of variables that influence the design and performance of a chemical reactor with heat transfer, from the vessel size and type catalyst distribution among the beds catalyst type, size, and porosity to the geometry of the heat-transfer surface, such as tube diameter, length, pitch, and so on. Experience has shown, however, that the reactor temperature, and often also the pressure, are the primary variables feed compositions and velocities are of secondary importance and the geometric characteristics of the catalyst and heat-exchange provisions are tertiary factors. Tertiary factors are usually set by standard plant practice. Many of the major optimization studies cited by Westerterp et al. (1984), for instance, are devoted to reactor temperature as a means of optimization. 

Common practice is to specify exchanger surface in terms of total external square feet of tubing. The effective outside heat-transfer surface is based on the length of tubes measured between the inner faces of tube sheets. In most heat exchangers there is little difference between the total and the effective surface. Significant differences are usually found in high-pressure and double-tube-sheet designs. 

When points for 20-ft-long tubes do not appear in Fig. 11-41, use 0.95 times the cost of the equivalent 16-ft-Iong exchanger. Length variation of steel heat exchangers affects costs by approximately 1 per square foot. Shell diameters for a given surface are approximately equal for U-tube and floating-head construc tion. 

Two heat exchangers, each 1.2 m in diameter and 9 m in length, with 1500 heat exchanger tubes of stainless CrNiMo steel [material No. 1.4571 (AISI 316 Ti)] were subjected to 98 to 99% sulfuric acid. The flow rate around the tubes was... 

The price of air-cooled exchangers should be obtained from vendors if possible. If not, then by coirelating in-house historical data on a basis of /ft of bare surface vs. total bare surface. Correction factors for materials of construction. pressure, numbers of tube rows, and tube length must be used. Literature data on air coolers is available (Reference 15). but it should be the last resort. In any event, at least one air-cooled heat exchanger in each project should be priced by a vendor to calibrate the historical data to reflect the supply and demand situation at the expected time of procurement. 

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