Shell & tube heat exchangers are the most versatile type of heat exchangers.
- They are used in process industries, in conventional and nuclear power
stations, steam generators, etc
- They are used in many alternative energy applications including ocean,thermal and geothermal.
- Shell & tube heat exchangers provide relatively large ratios of heat transfer area to volume.
- They can be easily cleaned.
- Shell & tube type heat exchangers are built of tubes (round or rectangular in general) mounted in shells (cylindrical, rectangular or arbitrary shape).
- Many variations of this basic type is available.
- The differences lie mainly in the detailed features of construction and provisions
- for differential thermal expansion between the tubes and the shell