The shell and tube heat exchanger consists of shell, a bundle of tubes, tube sheets, and heads. One fluid flows inside the tubes, while another fluid flows outside the tubes within the shell. Heat is transferred through the tube walls. It is robust, reliable, suitable for high temperature and pressure applications, and is the most widely used type of heat exchanger in industry.
However, the shell side cannot be mechanically cleaned, and an expansion joint is required when the temperature difference between tubes and shell is large to prevent damage from thermal stress.
