Tube in Shell Condenser (Shell and Tube), 4" and 6"
ABOUT THIS PART
Tube in shell condenser for solvent recovery, 4 in and 6 in shells in 48 in and 60 in lengths. $8,625 to $13,750, welded in our own shop in Bend, Oregon. Also sold under the name shell and tube condenser.
SPECIFICATIONS
| Construction | Tube in shell heat exchanger, 304L stainless |
|---|---|
| Shell sizes | 4 in and 6 in OD sanitary tube |
| Shell wall | 0.109 in on 6 in models, 0.065 in on 4 in models |
| Lengths | 48 in and 60 in |
| Tubes | 3/8 in x 0.035 in wall; 86 on the 4 in, 101 on the 6 in |
| Tube setback | 1 in back from each ferrule face; a 6 x 48 carries 46 in tubes |
| Baffles | Three, about 50 percent cut |
| Heat transfer surface | 4,661 sq in on the 4 x 48, 5,876 sq in on the 4 x 60, 5,473 sq in on the 6 x 48, 6,901 sq in on the 6 x 60. Worked from the tube count, the 3/8 in tube outside diameter and the effective tube length after the 1 in setback at each end |
| Shell end connections | 4 in or 6 in tri clamp |
| Coolant connections | 2 in tri clamp |
| Flow path | Vapor and solvent in the tubes, coolant on the shell side |
| Coolant media | Chilled glycol, liquid CO2 or liquid nitrogen |
| Duty | Hydrocarbon and ethanol solvent recovery, distillation, process heat exchange |
| Approved solvents | Butane, propane including straight propane, and ethanol |
| Prices | $8,625 / $9,500 / $12,500 / $13,750 |
| Shipping weight | 150 lb, every size |
| Shipping | LTL freight, quoted after the crate is measured |
| Built or stocked | Welded in our own shop in Bend, Oregon |
Sizes and prices
| Size | SKU | Tubes | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 in x 48 in | NB-HC-TNS-4X48 | 86 at 3/8 in | $8,625 |
| 4 in x 60 in | NB-HC-TNS-4X60 | 86 at 3/8 in | $9,500 |
| 6 in x 48 in | NB-HC-TNS-6X48 | 101 at 3/8 in | $12,500 |
| 6 in x 60 in | NB-HC-TNS-6X60 | 101 at 3/8 in | $13,750 |
How it is built
- Shell: 6 in OD x 0.109 in wall sanitary tube on the 6 in models, 4 in OD x 0.065 in wall on the 4 in models
- Tubes: 3/8 in x 0.035 in wall, ends flush with the tubesheets, set back 1 in from each ferrule face, so a 6 x 48 carries 46 in tubes
- Three baffles, about 50 percent cut, so the coolant snakes across the bundle instead of short-circuiting
- Vapor and solvent run inside the tubes. Coolant runs the shell side
- Shell ends are 4 in or 6 in tri clamp. Coolant inlet and outlet are 2 in tri clamp
- 304L stainless throughout, sanitary tri clamp connections
- Coolant: chilled glycol, liquid CO2 or liquid nitrogen
- Runs butane, straight propane or ethanol. The 250 psi (17.2 bar) pressure envelope is what makes straight propane practical
Why it recovers faster than a jacketed tank
A jacket loses half its working surface as the tank fills. A tube bundle stays empty and keeps all of it.
| Heat transfer surface | Working mid-recovery | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 x 48 tube in shell | 5,473 sq in | All of it |
| 100 lb jacketed solvent tank | 6,393 sq in | About half, the rest is submerged |
On a passive system the condenser is what sets recovery time, so this is usually the cheapest place to buy back hours per run.
Fitment
- A common add-on to the 20 LB and 40 LB Double Barrel systems, priced separately and not included in the system price
- Retrofits onto older passive skids that recover too slowly
- Plumbed inline between the recovery vessel and the solvent tank, or as recovery, molecular sieve, tube in shell, then solvent tank, which takes some modification
- If you want a condenser that bolts onto a 6 in tri clamp solvent tank with no rack changes, that is the Solvent Tank Condenser instead
- Custom lengths, port arrangements and fittings on inquiry. We cut the tubesheets, so a nonstandard build is a quote, not a no
Service and shipping
- No wear parts inside the exchanger. Replace the tri clamp gaskets on the same 3 to 6 month schedule as the rest of the system, Viton recommended
- Flush the tube side with the same solvent you run
- Shipping weight is 150 lb on every size
- Every size ships LTL freight. Nothing is charged for freight at checkout, it is quoted and invoiced once the crate is measured
- Read Stainless Steel Tube in Shell Condensers for how the surface area is worked out
| FITS | An add-on to the 20 LB and 40 LB Double Barrel hydrocarbon systems, priced separately rather than included; retrofits onto older passive skids; plumbs inline between the recovery vessel and the solvent tank; 4 in or 6 in tri clamp shell ends with 2 in tri clamp coolant ports. Not a drop-in for a solvent tank you already own, that is the Solvent Tank Condenser. |
|---|
▦ IN YOUR MANUAL
This part appears in the operator manual that ships with your system. The QR code there links to this page.
◈ REFERENCE FOR THIS PART
COMMON QUESTIONS
Which size do I need?
Match the shell to your system's recovery line. On a 20 LB or a 40 LB Double Barrel it is the 6 in, ordered as an add-on rather than included in the system price. The 4 in suits smaller skids and benchtop recovery.
Does a longer shell recover faster?
Yes, within reason. Going 48 in to 60 in adds tube length and surface area at the same tube count.
Can I run liquid CO2 on the shell side?
Yes, and tell us when you order. External pressure on a thin tube is the limit, not internal pressure, and we build a heavier tube wall for liquid CO2 duty. Customers who ran liquid CO2 on the thin-wall build collapsed tubes.
How much surface area do I get?
4,661 sq in on the 4 x 48, 5,876 sq in on the 4 x 60, 5,473 sq in on the 6 x 48 and 6,901 sq in on the 6 x 60. Those are tube count times 3/8 in outside diameter times the effective tube length, which is 46 in on a 48 in shell and 58 in on a 60 in shell after the 1 in setback at each end.
Is this an ASME vessel?
No. It is a welded heat exchanger, not a code-stamped pressure vessel. The ASME vessels in the system are the solvent tank and the recovery vessel.
What is the difference between this and the Solvent Tank Condenser?
This one plumbs inline and needs a place in the rack. The Solvent Tank Condenser drops through a 6 in tri clamp on a solvent tank you already own and needs no rack changes.
Do I need nut and ferrule sets?
Not for the tri clamp connections. You will need tri clamps and gaskets on every joint, and nut and ferrule sets on any compression tubing you run to it.
What does it weigh?
150 lb on every size.
How does it ship?
LTL freight at 150 lb. Nothing is charged for freight at checkout. We measure the crate and invoice the freight after.
Can you build a different length?
Yes. Custom lengths, port arrangements and fittings are quoted on inquiry.