Finned Tube Heat Exchangers Used as Steam Preheaters

Finned Tube Heat Exchangers Used as Steam Preheaters

Finned tube heat exchanger mainly consists of finned tubes, which include base tube and fins. When steam enters the heat exchanger as a hot fluid, it flows inside the tubes. The preheated fluid (e.g., liquid or gas) flows outside the tubes and is in contact with the fins.

The heat from the steam is transferred through the tube walls to the fins, which allow the fluid outside the tubes to absorb the heat more efficiently because the fins increase the heat transfer area. For example, heat is transferred from the steam to the base tube, and then through the base tube to the fins, and heat is transferred to the fluid being preheated by convection heat transfer between the fins and the fluid outside the tube, thus preheating the fluid.

Highly efficient heat transfer: The presence of fins greatly increases the heat transfer area, which enables more efficient heat transfer compared to light tube heat exchangers. For example, the heat transfer area of a finned tube heat exchanger can be several or even more than ten times that of a light tube heat exchanger for the same volume, which makes it possible to quickly raise the temperature of the fluid being preheated during the steam preheating process.

Compact Design: Due to the highly efficient heat transfer characteristics of finned tubes, finned tube heat exchangers can be smaller than other types of heat exchangers when meeting the same heat transfer requirements. This is very favorable for applications where space is limited, such as in some factory floors.

Adaptable to a wide range of fluids: It can be used to preheat a variety of different fluids, including liquids (e.g., water, oil, etc.) and gases (e.g., air, various process gases, etc.). For steam preheating of liquids, finned tube heat exchanger is well adapted to different flow rates and temperature changes of liquids.

Application Scenarios and Cases

Chemical industry: In chemical production, many chemical reactions need to be carried out at a certain temperature. For example, in the process of petroleum refining, some raw oils need to be preheated with steam through the finned tube heat exchanger before entering into the reaction device, in order to reach a suitable reaction temperature and improve the reaction efficiency.

Food Processing Industry: In food processing, such as milk needs to be preheated before it is sterilized and disinfected. The finned tube heat exchanger can use steam to preheat the milk efficiently, and its compact structure is also suitable for installation in the food processing workshop.

HVAC industry: In the air conditioning systems of some large buildings, the fresh air needs to be preheated. Finned tube heat exchangers can use steam to preheat the fresh air, improving the energy efficiency of the air conditioning system while reducing energy waste.