OPERATION
Shell and Tube surface condensers
are designed to condense steam or
other condensable vapor using cold
water. The condensers are normally
designed with cooling water on the
shellside and condensable vapor on
the tubeside for easier maintenance.
The cooling water passes around the
tubes and shellside baffles.
APPLICATION
Shell and tube surface condensers separate the hot and cold fluids,
so there is no physical contact between the cooling water and the
condensate. Any undesirable components in either stream will not
be transferred to the other stream. If the condensate stream requires
further treatment, use of a shell and tube condenser will greatly
reduce the volume of the stream to be treated. Shell & tube condensers
can easily be fitted with condensate pumps in vacuum service.
eliminating the need to elevate the system to barometric height.
Condensers are commonly employed in a multistage steam jet vacuum
system after boosters, high vacuum ejectors, & low vacuum ejectors.
These condensers are also referred to as precondensers,
intercondensers, & aftercondensers. Precondensers & intercondensers
lower the condensable gas loading to the following ejector stage,
saving steam and reducing the size of the following ejector stage.
After condensers recover heat & reduce the emission of undesirable
condensable components in the gas.
CONSTRUCTION
Condensers are available in almost any metal, including steel, stainless
steel, Hastelloy, Alloy 20, titanium, and Monel. The condensers are built
to HEI (Heat Exchanger Institute) and ASME code standards and are
available with TEMA C and R ratings.
As heat is transferred from the gas through the tube walls to the water, the steam or
other condensable vapor is condensed out of the gas stream. Any non condensable gas is
discharged at the gas outlet connection.
