EMbaffle® is a proprietary shell and tube heat exchanger technology, designed to improve performance by pressure drops control, with suppressed tube vibrations. Developed to minimize fouling accumulation in crude oil units, the technology has proved to be effective in Gas treatment and Petrochemical, supporting the increase in gas–gas and cooling water flow rate per-unit demand, and in Renewable CSP, where Molten Salt units get a primary role in thermal storage and power efficiency. Diamond shape and baffle-grids number are the instruments for the design engineer to exploit exchanger efficiency against pressure drops, aimed to the desired performance with the optimized power consumption. Further to introduce the base of the technology, this work will also address the design of higher compact units by combining the grids performance with the improved exchanger tube surface. Experimental data to support the grid life under critical working conditions and actual performances with fluids density and viscosity are reported.
Part of the book: Heat Transfer
Several heat exchanger technologies have been developed in the second half of the former century thenceforth for addressing a multiplicity of incumbent topics shaping the discussion in the technical community and the economics of the process industry. In the frame of shell-and-tube layout, longitudinal flow deserves a peculiar place. Initially conceived for addressing requisition for reduced vibration and fouling accumulation and later recommended in case of limited allowable pressure drops, it proved valuable in replacing segmental layouts whereas weight and footprint come into the picture and reliability matters. Structural increases in the cost of raw materials and expectation for extended operational continuity push the industry in the direction of more efficient and dependable technologies. This chapter focuses on the EMbaffle® design, among the most reputed longitudinal flow shell-and-tube technologies, whose extensive adoption in oil and gas, chemical sector, and renewable power generation in the last two decades allows some fair yet not exhaustive considerations. After a concise introduction to the feature of longitudinal flow technology and to EMbaffle® basic design equations, measures of performance will be discussed. Comparison with conventional technologies will be outlined. Selected realizations will be critically presented and their potential for effective market penetration duly assessed.
Part of the book: Heat Transfer