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[SadiqChemy]

Can anybody explain to me the difference between thermal and mechanical design of heat exchanger and how there are related with each other ?

 

 

[Napo]

SadiqChemy,

The thermal design of a heat exchanger includes:

1. Consideration of process fluids in both shell and tube side;
2. Selection of required temperature specifications;
3. Limiting the shell and tube side pressure drop;
4. Setting shell and tube side velocity limits;
5. Finding heat transfer area including fouling factor.

The mechanical design includes:

1. Selection of TEMA layout - based on thermal design;
2. Selection of tube parameters such as size, thickness, layout, pitch, material;
3. Limiting the upper and lower design on tube length;
4. Selection of shell side parameters such as material, baffle spacing, and clearances;
5. Thermal conductivity of tube material;
6. Setting upper and lower design limits on shell diameter and baffle spacing.

Napo.