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