TEMA E Shell: Most common. Single pass shell.

E is the starting point for

selection of shell type. Should there be problem with the E shell on account of pr
drop and/or flow induced vibration, J or X shell should be considered.
TEMA F Shell: 2-pass shell. Longitudinal baffles divides the shell into 2 passes.
Used for temp cross situations. Shell side Delta P is 8 times larger than
corresponding delta P of E type.
Caution: when there is temp cross, better to use multiple E type shell in series.
Since F shells are prone to leakage across the sealing strips fixed to the
longitudinal baffle heat exchangers ( u tube and floating head), there use is
generally not recommended,
TEMA J Shell: divided flow shell. Two configurations. a) J1-2 shell: 1 inlet in at
centre and flow divided into 2 halves ( half left and half right) and leaving
separately through tow nozzles. b) J2-1 shell : stream divided into 2 halves and
enters the shell at 2 locations and leave as a single stream from centre.
Application: if stream is sensible liq or gas, use either J1-2 or J2-1. If inlet stream
is vapour which subsequently condenses, then inlet nozzle is much much bigger
than outlet nozzle. Therefore use J2-1 configuration as each inlet nozzle will be
sized for only half of the flow. The reverse is true for vaporising services requiring
small inlet nozzle and big outlet nozzle, Therefore advantageous to use J1-2 shell
compared to J2-1.
J type shell produces shell side pressure drop 1/8 times that of E type.
TEMA G Shell: Split flow. Used for horz thermosyphon reboilers. Only one central
support and no baffles. TEMA restricts max unsupported tube length is 1500 mm.
Therefore G type shall cannot use tube length more than 3000 mm.
TEMA H Shell. Double split flow. Used where larger tube length is desired.
Equivalent to 2 G shell placed side by side. Therefore 2 full support plates.
Therefore max tube length go up to 6000 mm. Used for Hor thermosyphon
reboilers. Pr drop reduced drastically. Since there is no pump in thermosyphon
reboiler circuit, G or H type is most suited.
Cross baffles are normally not employed in G or H shell.
TEMA X Shell. Pure crossflow shell. Lowest pr drop. If all other options exhaust,
then X type selected. Employed for cooling or condensing vapours at very low pr
, particularly vacuum. Required no of full support plates can be used for
structural integrity and to eliminate any possibility of failures of tubes due to flow
induced vibrations. They donot interfere with shellside flow as they are parallel to

flow direction. Should be employed in extreme situations where even a NTIW

designs fail to meet the allowable shell side pressure drop limitation. One perfect
example is vacuum column ejector first stage intercondensers operating typically
at 50 mm Hg and having allowable pr drop of 5 mm Hg.

TEMA K Shell: special crossflow shell employed for kettle reboilers having an
integral vapour disengagement space in the shape of enlarged shell. Full support
plates can be employed as required.