looking for some information on shell and tube heat exchangers

Discussion in 'Diesel Engines' started by bntii, Oct 8, 2008.

  1. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    bntii Senior Member

    I have a basic design question about heat exchangers.
    In the shell and tube type, which is extracts more heat:

    a) 12 tubes of 12" length

    or

    b) 6 tubes of 24" length

    I am having trouble getting my head around this design issue which involves as I see it questions of flow volume and time for the heat transfer.

    Thanks all
     
  2. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    Location: Adriatic sea

    CDK retired engineer

    Heat transfer is a function of surface area, conductance, delta-t and flow volume. In the example the surface area is approximately the same, not considering the area lost by seals.
    Since you do not specify the other factors I assume they are also the same, so the efficiency of the two designs will be equal.
    The long tubes may perform marginally better because with less tubes it is easier to obtain equal speed distribution.
    And of course less tubes makes the construction less expensive.
     
  3. bntii
    Joined: Jun 2006
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    bntii Senior Member

    Thanks CDX,

    I was looking into this question as I have a engine which is not getting enough cooling. The exchanger is a 2 pass type with straight 1/4" tubes.
    After talking to a few folks it seems that I may need to get a different core bundle with a more tubes of a smaller diameter.
    Does anyone have a source for replacement bundles for exchangers?

    Thanks all
     
  4. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    CDK retired engineer

    Bowman marine is the source for heat exchangers, core bundles and connecting parts. Their US agent is mesamarine.com.
     
  5. TedZ
    Joined: Jan 2009
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    TedZ Junior Member

    Heat transfer is very complicated. Another factor is the distance between the tubes. Flow outside the tubes is less restricted with greater distance.

    The implication is that smaller tubes will have a higher specific surface and they will if there is enough of them. Flow around them, as mentioned, might be restricted and the gain negated.

    We generally overdesign heat exchangers a lot assuming they still have to work when scaled. We use a three way valve to eliminate over cooling and by watching the position of that valve you get invaluable info on when descaling is necessary.

    My $.02

    Ted
     
  6. FAST FRED
    Joined: Oct 2002
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    Location: Conn in summers , Ortona FL in winter , with big d

    FAST FRED Senior Member

    Make sure the H-E is hooked up right. You want the coldest sea water to greet the hottest eng output , in an attempt to keep the sea water below 140F at all times.

    Otherwise salt will come out of solution and slow the water flow.

    FF
     
  7. SeaJay
    Joined: Jun 2007
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    Location: Sacramento

    SeaJay Senior Member

    Gerr's new book

    I don't know if you guys have had a chance to look at Dave Gerr's new book, Boat Mechanical Systems Handbook, but it is excellent. He has a chapter on Heat exchangers and like everywhere else in the book, he gives you the distilled engineering data to do basic calculations (and then some). The tables and calculations are too lengthy to post here, but the book is worth every bit of its price.

    Gerr doesn't need me to be a shill for his work, but I think he is really to be commended for this effort. I've got a pretty extensive library on boat related subjects but outside of mechanical engineering text books, I've seen nothing as detailed. But more important, it is focused on boats and systems that we actually use. Get you hands on a copy if you can.
     
  8. pali
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    pali New Member

    can anyone help me where i want to start to design the shell and tube heat exchanger
     
  9. CDK
    Joined: Aug 2007
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    CDK retired engineer

  10. pali
    Joined: Dec 2012
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    Location: malaysia

    pali New Member

    i'm student and my lecturer give me project to design the shell and tube heat exchanger for marine engine...so what the information or the parameter that i need to know...
     

  11. tunnels

    tunnels Previous Member

    fINDING INFORMATION ON THE COMPUTER IS DEAD SIMPLE TYPE MARINE ENGINE HEAT EXCHANGERS
    Last time i did that for another person i found heaps of stuff picture diagrams and countless sites !! google or YAHOO is all i ever use . :eek:
     
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