What are the characteristics of tubular heat exchangers

Source： Release date： 2026-10-13

Information summary：Tube and shell heat exchangers belong to inter wall heat exchange equipment, which rely on the heat exchange tube wall to achieve heat transfer between the tube side and the shell side fluids; The core features are sturdy structure, strong pressure and temperature resistance, wide adaptability to working conditions, and customizable on a large scale. It is divided into three mainstream structures:

Tube and shell heat exchangers belong to inter wall heat exchange equipment, which rely on the heat exchange tube wall to achieve heat transfer between the tube side and the shell side fluids; The core features are sturdy structure, strong pressure and temperature resistance, wide adaptability to working conditions, and customizable on a large scale. It is divided into three mainstream structures: fixed tube plate, floating head, and U-shaped tube. Different structures have significant differences in thermal compensation, maintenance and cleaning, and cost; Shortcoming is that the equipment volume is relatively large, and some structural shell side cleaning is limited, resulting in lower heat transfer efficiency per unit volume compared to plate heat exchangers.
1、 General advantages
1. Strong pressure and temperature resistance, suitable for a wide temperature and pressure range. Capable of withstanding high-pressure working conditions, with temperature coverage ranging from low-temperature cryogenic to high-temperature media; The material options include carbon steel, stainless steel, duplex steel, titanium, etc. It can be adapted to corrosive media and is a heat exchange equipment for high-pressure and high-temperature industrial scenarios.
2. The heat transfer area is flexible and customizable. The heat exchange area of a single unit can range from a few square meters to thousands of square meters; The tube side can be designed as one-way, two-way, or multi way, and the shell side is equipped with baffles to enhance fluid turbulence, strengthen heat transfer, and meet the requirements of high flow processes.
3. Stable and reliable operation, with a long service life. The standardization level of components is high, and the manufacturing and inspection follow pressure vessel specifications. It is impact resistant and suitable for continuous and uninterrupted industrial production.
4. Strong fluid compatibility, capable of handling liquid-liquid, vapor-liquid, condensation, evaporation, waste heat recovery and other working conditions, and able to withstand media containing small amounts of solid particles.
5. Optional maintenance plan: Floating head and U-shaped tube bundles can be extracted as a whole, and both the tube and shell sides can be mechanically cleaned, suitable for media that are prone to scaling.
2、 General Shortcomings
1. The equipment has a large weight and occupies a lot of space. The heat transfer area per unit volume is smaller than that of plate heat exchangers, and it occupies a larger area under the same heat transfer capacity.
2. Partial structural cleaning limitations: The fixed tube plate shell side cannot extract the tube bundle, and the shell side can only be chemically cleaned, which is not suitable for media with severe scaling on the shell side.
3. The overall heat transfer coefficient is lower than that of plate heat exchangers; When the viscosity of the medium is high, it is more prone to scaling and requires regular cleaning and maintenance.
There is a risk of leakage at the connection between the tube plate and heat exchange tube, and the quality of expansion/welding directly affects the sealing performance.
3、 Characteristics of the three mainstream segmentation structures
1. Fixed tube plate
Advantages: Simple structure, low manufacturing cost; The pipeline is easy to clean and the equipment is compact.
Disadvantages: The shell is rigidly connected to the tube bundle, and when the temperature difference between the tube and shell is large, it will generate significant thermal stress; The large temperature difference requires the addition of expansion joints, and the shell side cannot be mechanically cleaned.
Applicable: The temperature difference between the two sides of the medium is not significant, and the shell side medium is clean and not prone to scaling.
2. Floating head type
Advantages: One end of the tube bundle can slide freely, eliminating temperature difference stress; The overall tube bundle is extracted, and both the tube and shell sides can be mechanically cleaned, suitable for scenarios prone to scaling and large temperature differences.
Disadvantages: Complex structure, high consumables, and high cost; The sealing requirements for the floating head end are high, and it is difficult to check for seal failure.
3. U-shaped tube type
Advantages: With only one tube plate, the heat exchange tubes can freely expand and contract without temperature difference stress; High temperature and high pressure resistance, the tube bundle can be extracted.
Disadvantages: The inner side of the U-shaped bend is difficult to clean, and the inner heat exchange tube is damaged and difficult to replace, so it can only be blocked; The number of pipes laid on the pipe plate is relatively small.
Applicable to: cleaning of medium inside the pipe, high temperature and high pressure working conditions.

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