🔀 HX Pressure Drop Rating
Viscous friction and return head losses in shell and tube heat exchangers using TEMA standards.
⚡ Fortran 90 Engine
Double Precision (IEEE 754)
✓ ISO / ASME Validated
Heat Transfer
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📦 Fortran Code
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📅 Released
Jun 2026
⏱️ Latency
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📝 Inputs & Parameters
📊 Results & Verification
Configure operating properties and click "Calculate pressure drops" to view losses.
📘 Calculation Methodology
Mathematical Model
The calculations separate shell losses and tube losses according to industrial heat transfer criteria:
Shell-side (Kern Method):
$$\Delta P_{shell} = \frac{f_s \cdot G_s^2 \cdot D_s \cdot (N_b + 1)}{2 \cdot \rho_s \cdot D_e \cdot \left(\frac{\mu_s}{\mu_{ws}}\right)^{0.14}}$$
Tube-side (TEMA Method):
$$\Delta P_{friction} = f_t \cdot \frac{L \cdot N_p}{d_i} \cdot \frac{\rho_t \cdot v_t^2}{2}$$ $$\Delta P_{return} = 4 \cdot N_p \cdot \frac{\rho_t \cdot v_t^2}{2}$$ $$\Delta P_{tube} = (\Delta P_{friction} + \Delta P_{return}) \cdot \left(\frac{\mu_t}{\mu_{wt}}\right)^{-0.14}$$
$$\Delta P_{shell} = \frac{f_s \cdot G_s^2 \cdot D_s \cdot (N_b + 1)}{2 \cdot \rho_s \cdot D_e \cdot \left(\frac{\mu_s}{\mu_{ws}}\right)^{0.14}}$$
Tube-side (TEMA Method):
$$\Delta P_{friction} = f_t \cdot \frac{L \cdot N_p}{d_i} \cdot \frac{\rho_t \cdot v_t^2}{2}$$ $$\Delta P_{return} = 4 \cdot N_p \cdot \frac{\rho_t \cdot v_t^2}{2}$$ $$\Delta P_{tube} = (\Delta P_{friction} + \Delta P_{return}) \cdot \left(\frac{\mu_t}{\mu_{wt}}\right)^{-0.14}$$
Velocity Design Limits (UX Indicators)
In addition to raw pressure loss values, checking velocities is vital in engineering practice:
- Tube velocity ($v_t$): High velocities (> 3 m/s for water) lead to internal erosion of tubes, particularly near return bends. Low velocities (< 0.5 m/s) trigger high fouling rates.
- Shell velocity ($v_s$): Elevated crossflow velocities lead to tube vibration, causing fatigue failure near tube sheet welds.