Sovonex™ heat exchangers are used in a wide variety of applications, but we especially excel at manufacturing cooling systems for the oil processing industry.
With many years of experience in the field and our ability to design and manufacture to TEMA R, Sovonex™ shell and tube heat exchangers are frequently used in refineries.
In fact, we construct and provide complete cooling systems for refineries such as finned tube air coolers.
Sovonex™ shell and tube heat exchangers comprise of a pressure vessel (shell) containing a bundle of tubes. The ends of the tubes are secured on a mounting plate (tube sheet) that can be either fixed to the shell or movable.
Exhaust fluid passes through the tube bundle. Heat is transferred away from the fluid by circulating a cooling medium inside the shell over the tubes. Using finned instead of bare tubes increases heat transfer by providing a larger surface area.
More than one heat exchanger may be combined to form a large single cooling unit, especially when skid-mounted.
Sovonex™ shell & tube heat exchangers combine the following key advantages:
- Suitable for use in systems with high pressures and operating temperatures
- Space-saving due to compact design and the ability to vertically stack several heat exchanger units.
- Cost-effective, especially for large flow volumes
Shell & Tube Heat Exchanger Tube Bundle Designs
The performance of a shell and tube heat exchanger is mainly determined by the design of its tube bundle. Each design comes with a different set of advantages and limitations.
Design feature: Both tube sheets welded to the shell.
Advantages
- Simple and economical design
- The inside of the tubes can be cleaned
Limitation: No room for expansion of the tubes at high temperatures
Design Feature: Tubes bend on the shell site and fixed on a movable tube sheet on the tube side.
Advantages
- Full thermal expansion of tubes possible
- Tube bundle can be removed for cleaning on the outside
Limitations
- Only even tube passes possible
- More expensive than using a fixed tube sheet
Design Feature: The tube sheet of the rear header is not welded to the shell.
Advantages
- Full thermal expansion of tubes possible
- Tube bundle can be removed for cleaning on both the outside
Limitation: More expensive than using a fixed tube sheet and U-tube.
Why We Build Great Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers
We manufacture shell and heat exchangers of all TEMA types, such as BEM, CFU, and AES.
To save valuable floor space, Sovonex™ S&T heat exchangers have a compact design and aim for a skid-mounted layout where possible.
With many years of experience, we know what is important and where the pitfalls are. This enables us to tailor each s&t heat exchanger to your specific requirements and make sure it is delivered in full compliance with the specifications.