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When do we use helical baffles in heat exchangers? In my plant there is a heat exchanger having helical baffles. When I checked its data sheet it says its helix angle is 20 degrees. What does that mean?
 
Answers
21/04/2016 A: Prakash Pimparkar, Environmental Consulting Services , prakash.pimparkar@yahoo.in
Helical baffles improve the HE thermal efficiency and fouling by increasing the turbulence.The design is normally proprietary, the degrees mentioned is to the direction of fluid flow.
21/04/2016 A: karthik ramesh, indian oil corporation, rameshkarthik810@gmail.com
Normally helical baffles are used in heavy fouling services in shell side like VR, RCO . viscosity of shell side should be very high and should be in heavy fouling service.
CBI Lummus has their patented design on this type of exchangers . You can see this type of exchangers in delayed coker, atmospheric and vacuum distillation units, visbreaker where fouling related issues exists in preheat train.
Coming to helix angle there are types like single and double segmental its single helix and double helix. shell side fluid moves in swirling motion inside the shell.