Shell and tube heat exchanger baffle form

The form of baffles can be divided into round (bow-shaped) baffles, disc ring baffles, perforated baffles and baffles (also called baffle rods).

Round-shaped baffles; round-shaped baffles can be divided into horizontal, vertical and liquid blocking shapes.

The cross-cut baffle is suitable for convective heat transfer without phase change, prevents the shell side fluid from flowing parallel to the tube bundle, and reduces the deposition of liquid at the bottom of the shell side. When the shell side is used for condensing operation, the bottom of the horizontally-shaped baffle should be opened with drainage holes, and the size of the hole depends on the amount of liquid. However, due to the improper drainage of the liquid, the liquid flooding and gas side flow are generated. Therefore, the vertical baffle is generally used when the condensation operation is performed on the shell side. Since the liquid-blocking baffle has a liquid-sealed area at the bottom, it can be used for condensing operations with cooling.

The notch height of the circular baffle can be 10 percent -40 percent of the diameter, and the general height is 25 percent of the diameter. In fact, under the same pressure drop, a baffle with a height of 20 percent of its diameter will obtain the best heat transfer efficiency. When the flow of the heat exchanger is large, in order to obtain better cross-flow and avoid fluid-induced vibration, the tube at the gap is often removed, which is called the arc-shaped area without pipes.

Disc ring baffle: The disc ring baffle allows a large flow rate and a small pressure drop, but the heat transfer efficiency is not as good as the round-shaped baffle. Therefore, this kind of baffle is mostly used in situations where a small pressure drop is required.

Perforated baffle: The perforated baffle allows fluid to flow through the gap between the baffle hole and the tube to increase heat transfer efficiency. This kind of baffle has a large pressure drop and is only suitable for cleaner fluids.

Baffle ring (also known as baffle rod): A baffle ring is a rod-type baffle structure. It makes the fluid longitudinally pass through the gap between the baffle rod and the heat exchange tube. This kind of heat exchanger requires large flow rate, small pressure drop and good heat transfer effect. It is suitable for occasions without phase change and with phase change.