Shell and tube cooler, also known as tubular cooler, consists of a tube side and a shell side. The fluid flowing inside the tubes is called the tube side, while the fluid flowing outside the tubes is called the shell side. The wall surface of the tube bundle serves as the heat transfer surface. When the temperature difference between the tube bundle and the shell exceeds 50°C, appropriate temperature compensation measures are taken to eliminate or reduce thermal stress. It is generally water-cooled and dominates the market.
The shell and tube cooler consists of two oil coolers of the same area and a three-way valve device. One is in operation while the other is on standby. Each cooler can handle the cooling load of the entire system. The tube sheet is fixed at one end and floating at the other, with a removable tube bundle and water chamber cover, facilitating cleaning, inspection, and maintenance during operation. The material of the cooler can be selected based on the application site and water system conditions.
Features of Shell and Tube Cooler
1. The shell and tube cooler uses bare tubes (without finned surface) as heat transfer tubes, providing high external film heat transfer coefficient and strong anti-fouling capability. 2. The cooling tubes are made of high-quality copper tubes and processed into finned heat sinks, resulting in compact product size and large heat exchange area. 3. The spiral baffle plate causes the cooled liquid to flow in a continuous, uniform spiral rolling motion, improving the heat exchange efficiency compared to segmented baffle plates. 4. The expansion joint sealing method is adopted, avoiding adverse changes caused by high-temperature welding. 5. The shell and tube cooler has good structural performance, stable sealing performance, high heat transfer efficiency, compact structure, and small footprint.
Structure of Shell and Tube Cooler
The heat transfer tubes of the shell and tube cooler are made of copper tubes rolled with cooling fins, providing large heat exchange area, compact product size, and light weight. The oil cooler is suitable for cooling low-viscosity and relatively clean oil; the shell and tube cooler can be used in industries such as plastic machinery, hydraulic equipment, air compressors, thin oil lubrication systems, fluid couplings, and power devices. This series of oil coolers can be designed and manufactured according to customer requirements, covering a wide range from small to large sizes.
Working Principle of Shell and Tube Cooler
Manual working process: After the water filter is connected to the pipeline system, water enters the filter from the lower inlet. When impurities in the water pass through the mesh core, they are intercepted on the mesh core due to their larger size. When a certain amount accumulates, a pressure difference occurs between the inlet and outlet (the pressure difference varies with mesh diameter, typically 0.15 MPa). Manually open the drain valve to start draining. Turn the handle in either clockwise or counterclockwise direction, rotating one notch every 10-30 seconds. The handle locks into each recess, and water backwashes the impurities attached to the inner wall of the mesh core. After one full rotation, close the drain valve, and manual draining is complete. If the user selects an automatic water filter, differential pressure draining and timed draining are available. 1. Differential pressure draining: When impurities accumulate to a certain amount, the pressure difference signal between the cooling water inlet and outlet pipes triggers backwashing and draining. The electric contact pressure gauge sends a control signal, the control mechanism opens the electric drain valve, and the electric reducer rotates at 3-6 rpm. Water backwashes the impurities attached to the inner wall of the mesh core, which are then discharged through the drain pipeline and valve into the cooling water outlet pipe. Each cleaning cycle takes about 5-10 minutes. If large debris causes the mesh core to fail to rotate into position, the electric device should reverse direction to flush out the debris. 2. If required, users can set a timed draining interval between 0-99 hours, typically set to drain every 12 hours. The time setting can be adjusted according to the water quality of the power plant. That is, the timed start of the electric reducer reverses to open the drain valve, sequentially performing reverse backwashing and draining.
