Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers

Enerquip’s standard shell and tube heat exchangers are constructed with an interior tube bundle and an outer cylindrical vessel, or the shell.

They achieve highly efficient heat transfer through fluid or gas flow. One fluid or gas flows within the tubing (tube side), while the other fluid or gas flows around the tube bundle (shell side). Heat exchange occurs through the tube walls, heating or cooling process fluids or gas as needed.

Shell-side fluids, like a cooling water stream, will effectively change the temperature of the process fluids in the tubes, as they flow through the shell.

Maintaining the proper thermal conditions within a storage tank for pumping fuel oil, asphalt, and other viscous fluids is quite costly for industrial plants. Suction heaters serve as a cost-efficient solution, only heating liquid as it’s pumped rather than the whole tank. These industrial heat exchangers work optimally with substances that, at lower temperatures, are semi- or fully solid. By heating the tanks contents using transfer fluid, you reduce its viscosity and facilitate easier pumping.

Enerquip offers a range of standard and custom suction heaters with features including:

• Stainless or carbon steel construction, with other corrosion-resistant metals available upon request
• ANSI mounting flanges for bolting to the manway flange
• Options for NPT threaded, lapjoint, and sanitary tri-clamp connections
• Compliance with ASME code, or international codes upon request
• Ability to apply client-supplied nozzle loadings
• Design capabilities for seismic or other site considerations
• Decades-long lifespan

This heat exchanger variety’s design is optimized for efficiency as well as space savings. Rather than pumping fluids through a heat exchanger to warm them, bayonet heaters heat a full tank’s worth of fluid utilizing an immersed tube bundle within it. Through the tank’s flange, the bundle enters the fluid, which then experiences direct exposure to the unit’s heating coil for highly efficient heat transfer.

Applicable in oil and gas production, chemical processing, power generation, water treatment, and more, Enerquip’s standard and custom bayonet heaters offer:

• Heating for virtually all liquid varieties
• Stainless or carbon steel construction, or higher alloys for optimal corrosion resistance
• Standard bare tubes or welded on helically wound fins for greater surface area and heat transfer
• Resistance to high pressures and temperatures
• Long-lasting operation, even under heavy use or harsh environments

Thermal fluid steam generators are ideal for applications that require steam, eliminating the need for  large-scale boiler operation while boosting efficiency and cost savings. Not only do steam generators allow for more precise temperature control than boilers, but they also offer improved efficiency, safer operations, reduced maintenance needs, and rapid start-ups and shutdowns.

Enerquip makes high-quality steam generators featuring:

• Closed-loop systems for heating and circulating thermal fluid
• Highly efficient HPR (high pressure return) systems that prevent thermal energy loss
• Compact design for simplified installation
• Ability to keep condensate above its atmospheric boiling point
• Capability to use diesel, natural gas, waste heat recovery, biomass, and other heat sources

Pairing an Enerquip industrial steam generator with one of our hot oil heaters will lend your system unparalleled energy efficiency and versatility.

Tube bundles are vital to shell and tube heat exchanger functionality as they provide the means for heat transfer. They’re also removable to allow for cleaning, maintenance, and replacement. Enerquip’s tube bundles come standard in 304L or 316L stainless steel, but customers may also upgrade to a variety of higher alloys. Design factors like shape, size, and tube arrangement also affect performance, impacting the heat exchanger’s efficiency.

At Enerquip, our selection of ASME hydro-tested, TEMA C-compliant stock U-tube bundles feature:

• Stainless steel construction, grades 304L or 316L
• Sizing of 6 x 54 inches or 8 x 54 inches
• O-ring or PTFE gasket types
• Surface finishes polished to a minimum of 32Ra

We also offer various upgrades and custom replacements to tailor our tube bundles to your needs and budget.

Enerquip’s hairpin heat exchangers are single-pass shell-and-tube (double pipe) heat exchangers that are folded in half to give them a hairpin appearance. They feature two U-shaped tubes bent and placed parallel to each other.

Their primary function is to facilitate the exchange of heat between two distinct fluids, each flowing within its own tube. This unique design maximizes the heat transfer surface area while minimizing the spatial footprint, making it a good choice when space is at a premium.

Good for applications with a temperature cross between the tube side and the shell side – countercurrent flow.

This style of heat exchanger uses a single tube placed inside another single tube. One fluid flows through the inner tube while the other flows through the space between the two tubes.

Tube-in-tube exchangers are commonly found in high-viscosity and high-pressure applications, such as those in the dairy, refining, and chemical industries.

In a finned tube shell and tube heat exchanger, the tubes have fins welded to them to increase surface area and overall heat transfer.

These exchangers are often used when space is a concern. With higher heat transfer efficiency, the units can often be smaller.

Fins can be customized with varying thicknesses, heights, and spacing to suit specific applications.