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Tube supports
The tubes in heat exchangers are somewhat flexible since they are
long and relatively thin-walled. Consequently they must have supports
at intervals in the shell to prevent sagging and minimize vibration.
Tube supports impart some directional effect to shell
side flow but are primarily used to support the tubes in a bundle.
Baffles
Baffles are used to modify shell side flow conditions so that an
optimum coefficient of heat transfer can be achieved.
Without baffles, fluid would enter at one end of the
shell, distribute itself across the tube bundle, and flow slowly,
generally parallel to the tubes, to the outlet end. |
