(221b) An Enhanced Alternative to TUBE HEAT Exchangers for Condensors, Evaporators, and Reactors

Tubes have been used for decades as a means of heat transfer, thus the sizing and application is well understood for tubes and tube bundles, but theoretical calculations and recent applications of inflated Temp-Plate^® pillow plate panels demonstrate that an enhanced alternative to tubes is available. Through testing and full scale industrial applications, some of the advantages offered by these inflated Temp-Plate^® pillow plate assemblies are: significantly lower thermal resistance, the efficiency of the technology in near vacuum, generally reduced pressure loss on media and process side, and reduced fouling/shut-down time. These advantages compound to make a substantially more efficient heat exchanger that is highly effective for processes requiring condensers, evaporators, or reactors. Fabrication of these inflated Temp-Plates^® pillow plate is well established, therefore they are not only a more efficient alternative, but a practical one as well. Through a study of recent applications, it can be seen that applying this enhanced alternative can reduce the operating costs of a process, reduce the overall surface area needed, reduce downtime, while providing a safe and effective means of enhanced heat transfer.