Project news

Shell & Tube heat exchanger: 2.914 7-metre tubes.

Kapp recently delivered a large Shell & Tube heat exchanger to a new customer in the chemical industry. A diameter of over 1.5 metres, 2,914 tubes of 7 metres, a maximum design temperature of 500 °C… these are just a few facts about this heat exchanger. HRS Heat Exchangers, our manufacturer of Shell & Tube heat exchangers, completely customised the heat exchanger for this project.

The customer was using a heat exchanger with substantial tube leakage and contacted Kapp with a request for a quote for a new tube heat exchanger. The first step was research. Why had the existing heat exchanger corroded so quickly? Subsequently, Kapp recommended a number of crucial improvements, which should ensure that the new supplied HRS Shell & Tube heat exchanger lasts considerably longer than its predecessor.

Time lapse of HRS K2914 manufacture,

Kapp compared a Shell & Tube heat exchanger with various types of welded plate heat exchangers in the quoting process. In comparison with a traditional tube heat exchanger, welded plate heat exchangers are smaller, more compact and cheaper at the same capacity (kW). Pressed plates make the gas start behaving turbulently between the plates. The turbulence in the heat exchanger provides a better heat transfer coefficient but results in a higher pressure drop. This was unwanted in our customer’s application. Consequently, the conclusion that a Shell & Tube heat exchanger was the most suitable heat exchanger for this application was made quickly.