A shell and tube heat exchanger transfers heat between two separated fluids using a tube bundle inside a cylindrical shell. This article explains its construction, flow arrangements (1–1 and 1–2), and key design principles used in chemical engineering.
Heat exchanger fouling in methanol plants can be a symptom of a deeper problem inside the Auto-Thermal Reformer (ATR): Ruby (or Rubby) Formation. This phenomenon occurs when impurities and hot spots weaken the catalyst support, releasing silica particles that deposit on exchanger tubes and reduce thermal efficiency. Several mitigation approaches are applied in industry — among… Read More »Heat Exchanger Fouling and Rubby Formation
Heat transfer is a fundamental unit operation in chemical engineering, essential for energy recovery and process control. This article explains the main industrial configurations: process-to-process heat exchange, utility-based systems such as reboilers and condensers, and integrated solutions like jacketed reactors. Direct-contact cases such as cooling towers and scrubbers are also considered, showing how thermal energy is… Read More »What is Heat Transfer? Definition and Types
