The process of shell-and-tube heat exchanger performance evaluation or “rating” consists of calculations of heat transfer coefficient α and pressure drop ΔP on both shell-side and tube-side. In this section, a systematic approach to the performance rating and design of shell-and-tube exchangers is outlined.

First, the methods for shell-side flow are presented. This includes:

• A survey and an evaluation of the existing methods are presented, including the justification of selecting the recommended method and its limitations.
• The principles of rating versus design of exchanger are illustrated and comments on the aspects of “optimization” are given.
• A detailed description of the procedures to rate or design a shell-and-tube exchanger with emphasis on the shell-side flow performance analysis.
• The evaluation of the results and suggested sequence of alternatives are outlined.

Detailed information on the tube-side calculations are provided in a separate section.