If shell inside diameter is ‘D’, baffle spacing in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger usually ranges within__________________?
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Answer: B. D/5 or minimum 2″ to 5D
Explanation
Baffle spacing in shell-and-tube exchangers must be constrained to maintain proper cross-flow velocity without excessive pressure drop. Industrial standards dictate that baffles should not be spaced closer than one-fifth of the shell diameter or two inches. Maximum baffle spacing is typically limited to one shell diameter to prevent fluid stagnation and dead zones. Baffles direct shell-side fluid back and forth across the tube bundle to enhance turbulence and heat transfer. Shell diameter sets the characteristic length scale used for establishing mechanical baffle spacing guidelines. Proper baffle placement prevents tube vibration caused by cross-flow fluid resonance inside the heat exchanger.
Placing baffles excessively close together causes catastrophic shell-side pressure drops and high pumping costs. Exceeding maximum spacing limits creates stagnant fluid pockets that drastically reduce overall heat transfer performance. Assuming independent baffle spacing ignores the critical geometric relationship between shell diameter and flow patterns.
- Subject
- Engineering
- Category
- Chemical Engineering
- Topic
- —
- Difficulty
- medium
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