Heat Exchanger Selection, and Sizing Parameters

Summary

The choice of the type of exchanger to be used in a given situation depends on several parameters, including the heat transfer area needed in order to carry out the desired thermal schedule. This chapter discusses the parameters to be defined when designing an exchanger. The design of the exchangers begins with the specification of the type of exchanger to be used. The choice between fluid circulation configurations, co‐flow or counter‐flow, depends on the problem considered. The fluid flow configuration is also part of the parameters to be considered when sizing an exchanger. Sizing an exchanger means determining its dimensions. For a shell‐and‐tube heat exchanger, the sizing means the determination of the diameter of the tubes, their arrangement in the shell, the shell's diameter, the length of the tubes, etc. Sizing also involves setting the operating conditions that allow the heat transfer sought to be carried out.