The following are only my personal opinions, based on over 57 years of experience as a practicing engineer. They are not meant as criticism on you or your programming background.
You cannot expect to design a dependable, correct heat transfer apparatus (such as a shell & tube unit) without having had a formal preparation and training in process heat transfer. And to do that, you have to have formal training in several other disciplines that extend beyond what a normal programmer is expected to know: fluid mechanics, mathematics, phase equilibria, etc., etc. When you embark on using a formal, detailed engineering software such as HTRI you should be thoroughly trained in the Unit Operation of heat transfer - which usually falls in the realm of either mechanical or chemical engineering (probably due to the extensive training in that discipline).
Engineering design - especially process heat transfer - involves a lot of more knowledge than just a series of equations, software, or mathematical relationships. That is why the design of these type of equipment is usually left in the hands of experienced mechanical and chemical engineers who have had a series of studies and experiences beyond of what is expected of a person who may be an expert in computer programming. Many, if not most, chemical and mechanical engineers are capable and efficient programmers - but yet, lack the experience of designing an industrial shell & tube unit.
To potentially avoid wasting a lot of valuable time, I recommend you obtain a copy of a formal heat transfer text that would be one of the items that would be expected to be in your background of knowledge. Such a text would be Process Heat Transfer, by Donald Q. Kern. There are other, more current texts in heat transfer as well. If you can fully understand and apply the theory, concept, and relationships discussed in such a text, then you should be able to start to understand the basics of being able to apply HTRI for a formal, detailed, and accurate mathematical design of a shell & tube unit. Such was the problem facing the engineering experts that developed the early HTRI software. However, you will find that in order to understand all the basic principles and theory that authors such as Kern present you will have to have a lot of formal engineering training or courses in your background. You will certainly be expected to know about and understand, a basic phase change - which is just one of the many physical and thermodynamic examples involved in most heat transfer operations. A thorough knowledge of thermodynamics and phase changes (as found in phase equilibria) is certainly required before you get involved with a multi-component condensing vapor. And that - specifically - seems to be your basic problem.
I don’t know whether you are a student or a practicing software engineer and I don't want to make this lengthy nor to disappoint you, but I hope you understand what I am trying to explain - based on my personal professional experience. As a Project Manager and Lead Process engineer, I would never assign an HTRI heat exchanger design assignment to anyone besides an experienced mechanical or chemical engineer. There are exceptions - but I have only found perhaps two or three in my career, and the persons involved have been exceptional and very gifted in personal experience and training. Perhaps some of our members reading this may differ with me, or add to what I have stated. Their contributions and experiences in this topic would certainly be welcomed and perhaps help you out.
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