Ketema & Whitlock Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers

Ketema and Whitlock Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers are designed for high efficiency and reliability in various industrial applications. These heat exchangers are constructed to meet stringent quality standards and deliver exceptional performance in heat transfer processes.

Key Features and Benefits:

• High-Quality Construction: Made from premium materials such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and copper, ensuring durability and long service life.
• Versatile Applications: Suitable for a wide range of industries including chemical processing, petrochemical, refineries, and utilities.
• Efficiency: Designed to maximize heat transfer efficiency, reducing energy consumption and operational costs.
• Customizable: Available in various configurations to meet specific application requirements, including different materials, pressures, and temperatures.

Key Components and Construction

Shell Assembly: Constructed from steel pipe or rolled plate metal for economic efficiency and durability. Shell roundness, achieved through mandrel expansion or double rolling, is critical for minimizing baffle spacing and optimizing performance. Impingement plates distribute fluid evenly to prevent erosion, vibration, and cavitation.

Tubes: Heat exchanger tubes, made from materials like low carbon steel, copper, stainless steel, and more, come in diameters of 0.625 to 1.5 inches. Tubes can be seamless or welded, with enhancements like fins to improve heat transfer rates. U-tube designs handle significant thermal differences but are harder to clean and maintain.

Bonnets and End Channels: Bonnets regulate fluid flow in the tube-side circuit and are fabricated or cast, mounted against the tube sheet with bolts and gaskets. They may include pass ribs for consistent fluid velocity and pressure drop. Materials used include iron, steel, bronze, Hastelloy, nickel-plated, or stainless steel.

Baffles: Baffles guide tubes during assembly, prevent vibration, and direct shell-side fluids to increase heat transfer. They must fit tightly within the shell to prevent fluid bypass and are precisely manufactured for easy assembly and maintenance. In liquid applications, baffles occupy 20-30% of the shell diameter; in gas applications, 40-45%. Even spacing reduces pressure drop and ensures fluid velocity.