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To be able to select a heat exchanger, we need to know;
The fields above are only the basics. When putting an enquiry together you should also make Thermex aware of any pressure loss limitations and any other special requirements.
Please click here to download the Thermex data sheet template which highlights the required fields for heat exchanger selection. The data sheet should also be saved and sent to us if you require a quotation for a heat exchanger.
Marine Heat Exchangers
The operating principles of a marine heat exchanger are the same as a cooler designed for fresh water use, the main consideration for the designer however is that the marine heat exchanger must be resilient to erosion or corrosion caused by sea water. This means that materials that come in to contact with the sea water must be suitable, such as 90/10 Cupro-Nickel, 70/30 Cupro-Nickel, Bronze and Titanium.
There are other factors which need to be taken in to consideration when a marine heat exchanger is being designed. One is the velocity, if it is too low then there is a risk that sand and other particles will block the tubes. If it is too fast on the other hand then those same particles can rapidly erode the tube plate and tubes.
Additional protection can be provided by installing a sacrificial anode which Thermex can include upon request. This will be installed in to the threaded hole normally used for a drain plug and is in direct contact with the sea water flow.
Heat Exchanger operate with
The suitability of a fluid with a heat exchanger will depend on the type of heat exchanger being used and the materials which are available. Standard Thermex Heat Exchangers are suitable for most fluids including Oil, Water, Water Glycol and Sea Water. For more corrosive fluids such as chlorinated salt water, refrigerants and acids other materials such as Stainless Steel and Titanium will need to be used instead.
temperature Cross Over
Temperature cross over is a term used to describe the scenario where the temperatures of both circuits in a liquid cooled heat exchanger begin to cross over. This can be an important factor in a heat exchanger design as the efficiency of a cooler will be significantly reduced when the temperatures cross over. In many cases a plate heat exchanger is the best option for applications where temperature cross over can't be avoided.
A Heat Exchanger Pass refers to the movement of a fluid from one end of the heat exchanger to the other. For example, when referring to the "through tubes" circuit (usually the coolant); · Single Pass - Fluid enters one end of the heat exchanger, and exits at the other end. · Double Pass - Fluid enters and exists the heat exchanger at the same end. · Triple Pass - Fluid travels the length of the heat exchanger body three times before exiting. The images below will help to demonstrate this;
Heat exchanger efficiency can be defined in many ways, in terms of thermal performance there are several key factors to consider;
Temperature differential - As discussed in point 3 (temperature cross-over) the difference between the hot fluid and coolant is very important when designing a heat exchanger. The coolant always needs to be at a lower temperature than the hot fluid. Lower coolant temperatures will take more heat out of the hot fluid than warmer coolant temperatures. If you had a glass of drinking water at room temperature for example, it is much more effective to cool it down using ice rather than just cool water, the same principle applies to heat exchangers.
Flow rate - Another important factor is the flows of the fluids in both the primary and the secondary side of the heat exchanger. A greater flow rate will increase the capability of the exchanger to transfer the heat, but a greater flow rate also means greater mass, which can make it more difficult for the energy to be removed as well as increasing velocity and pressure loss.
Installation - The heat exchanger should always be installed based on a manufacturers' guidelines. Generally speaking the most efficient way to install a heat exchanger is with the fluids flowing in a counter-current arrangement (so if the coolant is travelling left to right, the hot fluid travels right to left) and for shell and tube heat exchangers the coolant should enter at the lowest inlet position (as shown in the diagrams above) to ensure that the heat exchanger is always full of water. For air cooled heat exchangers it is important to consider the air flow when installing a cooler, any part of the core which is blocked will compromise cooling capacity
Heat Exchanger
The correct method of heat exchanger installation varies depending upon the exact type of unit and the environment of operation. For installations instructions please refer to one of our Installation and Operation Manuals
Heat exchangers are manufactured from robust materials, have no moving parts and operate at a variety of different pressures and temperatures, therefore if a heat exchanger is used in the correct way then there is no reason why it shouldn't be able to remain operational for many years. To help increase the operational lifetime of a heat exchanger there are several steps that should be taken;
Make sure the design data is accurate - If you are sending data to our engineers for heat exchanger selection, then it is best to make sure that it is as accurate as possible. Not only will this ensure that your heat exchanger is thermally efficient but also that it will be able to operate for a long period of time. If the flow rates are too high then erosion could be a problem, if the pressures are too high then leaks could occur and if there are any unusual chemicals in the fluids (such as acids in coolant water) then please contact us to check the compatibility. If our standard materials aren't suitable then we can usually supply an alternative which is.
Commission and Installation - When installing your heat exchanger, make sure that correct fittings and pipe work are used. If unsure, please check the Thermex Installation and Operation Manual for details. For heat exchangers on applications which use polluted, shallow or brackish sea water as the coolant and have copper alloy tubes, it is recommended to run the heat exchanger in clean sea water for several weeks first, this creates a protective layer over the tube material which helps to protect against corrosion. More information regarding this subject can be found on . Where possible, filters should also be used where fluids may contain solid particles to prevent tube erosion from occurring.
Regular Maintenance and Servicing - All Thermex shell and tube heat exchangers are designed to allow for easy maintenance and servicing. The end caps can be removed allowing the internal tube bundle to be removed for cleaning. New seal kits can also be provided from stock and are available to purchase on our Web Shop. For information and tips on servicing your heat exchanger, please see the Thermex Installation and Operation Manual.
Below are some abbreviations and terms often used in the heat exchanger industry;