Corrugated Tube Heat Exchanger: An Energy-Saving and High-Efficiency Heat Transfer Equipment with Enhanced Heat Exchange Performance

Corrugated Tube Heat Exchanger: An Energy-Saving and High-Efficiency Heat Transfer Equipment with Enhanced Heat Exchange Performance

^{Corrugated Tube Heat Exchanger: An Energy-Saving and High-Efficiency Heat Transfer Equipment with Enhanced Heat Exchange Performance}

^{A corrugated tube heat exchanger is an energy-saving and high-efficiency heat transfer equipment with enhanced heat exchange performance.}

^{1.Structure and Principle}

^{(1)Structure Composition}

^{It is typically composed of a shell, tube bundle, tube sheet, and head, among other parts. The tube bundle uses corrugated heat exchange tubes, whereas a conventional shell-and-tube heat exchanger employs smooth straight tubes as heat exchange tubes.}

^{(2)Working Principle}

^{Based on the principle of heat exchange, it utilizes two or more fluids with different temperatures flowing inside the heat exchanger, transferring heat from the high-temperature fluid to the low-temperature fluid to achieve heating or cooling purposes. In a corrugated tube heat exchanger, as the medium flows through the corrugated tube, significant disturbances occur inside and outside the tube, disrupting the thickening of the boundary layer and enhancing heat transfer, thereby improving heat transfer efficiency.}

2.Features

^{(1)Heat Transfer Efficiency}

^{The special peak-and-valley design of the corrugated tube causes strong turbulence in the fluid flow due to continuous abrupt changes in the cross-section inside and outside the tube. Even at low flow rates, the fluid can form strong disturbances both inside and outside the tube, significantly increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchange tube. Its heat transfer coefficient is 2-3 times higher than that of a traditional tubular heat exchanger.}

^{(2)Strong Anti-Fouling and Descaling Ability}

^{On the one hand, the highly turbulent state of the medium inside and outside the tube makes it difficult for solid particles in the medium to deposit and form scale. On the other hand, affected by the temperature difference of the medium, the corrugated tube undergoes slight axial expansion and deformation, and the curvature inside and outside the tube changes frequently. Due to the significant difference in the linear expansion coefficients between the scale layer and the corrugated tube, a large pulling-off force is generated between the scale and the heat exchange tube, causing any deposited scale to break and automatically fall off.}

^{(3)Automatic Compensation for Thermal Stress}

^{The special structural shape of the corrugated tube allows it to effectively reduce thermal stress under heat conditions, eliminating the need for expansion joints, thereby simplifying the product structure and improving product reliability.}

^{(4)Reliable, Safe, and Sturdy}

^{This product has a short sealing perimeter, and the presence of peaks and valleys enhances its axial expansion capability, effectively reducing thermal stress and adapting to significant temperature and pressure changes. Consequently, it does not experience leakage caused by tube rupture.}

^{(5)Small Size and Less Space Occupation}

^{Due to the significantly improved heat transfer performance, the external dimensions can be reduced under the same heat transfer area requirements, resulting in a corresponding reduction in floor space, weight, and cost.}

^{3.Classification}

^{(1)By Structural Form:}

^{-Fixed Tube Sheet Type}

^{Simple and compact in structure, it operates smoothly, safely, and reliably without blockages or leaks. The heat exchange tubes are easy to replace. However, shell-side cleaning is difficult and mechanical cleaning is not possible. It is suitable for conditions with temperatures less than 350°C and pressures less than 6.4 MPa.}

^{-Floating Head Type}

^{The tube bundle can be freely withdrawn from the shell, and its expansion is not constrained by the shell, eliminating thermal stress and allowing operation under higher temperature and pressure conditions. However, the structure is complex, costly, and material-intensive. It is suitable for almost any application, especially when the shell-side medium is prone to blockages and scaling.}

^{-Kettle Type}

^{An appropriate evaporation space is set at the top, serving as an evaporation chamber. It is mainly applied in the petrochemical industry and is suitable for dirty working media and high-pressure conditions.}

^{-U-Tube Type}

^{The tube bundle is unconstrained and can freely expand, eliminating thermal stress due to temperature differences between the tube bundle and the shell. The structure is simple with fewer sealed connections, and the tube bundle can be withdrawn for cleaning. However, fewer tubes are arranged on the tube sheet, affecting heat transfer efficiency due to fluid short circuits, and tube bending is challenging during manufacturing. It is suitable for conditions with significant temperature differences between the tube bundle and the shell, or when the shell-side medium is prone to scaling and requires cleaning, making floating head or fixed tube sheet types unsuitable, commonly used in residential, commercial, and domestic hot water systems.}

^{(2)By Application}

^{It can be classified into heaters, condensers, evaporators, reboilers, coolers, preheaters, cryogenic coolers, superheaters, etc.}

^{4.Application Areas}

^{It is widely used in urban central heating, power plants, petroleum, chemical, light industry, pharmaceuticals, and other industries, as well as in hot water supply and heating systems for civil buildings.}