U-tube heat exchanger

Main characteristics of U-shaped tube heat exchanger

1. The heat transfer tube bundle is U-shaped, reducing the mechanical connection at one end. The tube bundle can expand and contract freely without temperature stress caused by medium temperature difference. As the U-shaped tube heat exchanger only has one tube plate and no floating head, it is cheaper and has a simpler structure than the floating head heat exchanger. The tube bundle can be removed for cleaning between the tubes.
2. It is also suitable for situations where the installation space limits the size of the heat exchanger.
3. According to the usage scenario and environmental conditions, heat transfer tubes can be made of copper, stainless steel, or special alloy materials, which are suitable for heat exchange in chemical, high-temperature, and corrosive media.
4. Each U-shaped tube heat exchanger in this series is designed and manufactured according to customer requirements to adapt to specific heat transfer conditions.

Limitations of U-shaped tube heat exchanger application：

1. Due to the large spacing between pipes, especially the larger gap in the middle part, the heat transfer performance is poor.
2. Due to the different curvatures and lengths of the pipes in each row, the distribution of pipes is not as uniform as that of straight pipes.
3. The tubes in the middle of the bundle cannot be inspected or replaced, and the scrap rate of tubes after blockage is twice as high as that of straight tubes,
4. Because the tube plate bears all the supporting effect, the thickness of the tube plate with the same inner diameter of the shell is greater than other forms.
5. When the diameter of the U-shaped tube heat exchanger is large, it is difficult to support the U-shaped part and the vibration resistance of the tube bundle is poor.