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A Helixchanger differs from a standard heat exchanger mainly due to the peculiar shape and placement of the baffles which facilitate flow of the shell-side fluid in a helical formation. A Double Helix Heat Exchanger has two such arrangements of sequential baffles running simultaneously within the shell. Helixchanger is suited for processes that involve viscous fluid and low pressure-drop, which has a significant bearing on performance of the equipment. Moreover, Helixchangers, during operation, exhibit low vibration as fluid flows smoothly between the helices. Also, use of Helixchangers helps in reduced fouling due to uniform fluid velocities.
Helixchanger is a unique type of heat exchanger. The standards, for Baffle-hole clearance and for Baffle-to-Shell ID clearance, in a Helixchanger have to be more rigid than for a standard exchanger. This is because the leak path, through elliptical holes in a 35-degree inclined baffle (Helixchanger), is far greater than through circular holes in a vertical baffle (Standard Heat Exchanger).
Leakage Area Comparison
(Standard Heat Exchanger on the left and Helixchanger on the right)
TEMA INDIA’s expertise in design and manufacturing of Helixchangers
Tema India Limited has designed and manufactured the largest and the most complicated Helixchanger in the country and amongst the largest in the world, based on technology from Lummus.
Premack B.V. Horizontal Inclined plate drilling machine
Pre3000 – 3200X2200 (0 to 45°)
Reliance Industries Limited held consultative discussions with us to increase capacity of their installed shell-&-tube heat exchangers. This entailed design and supply of a new heat exchanger. We offered them Double Helix Heat Exchanger, a first in India.
Appreciation from ABB during their visit to our manufacturing facility
(in conversation with Me & Mr. Chetan Doshi)
Since use of Helixchanger helps in increase of efficiency and drastic lowering of capital cost, this product has the great potential to serve Refineries, Petrochemical plants, Fertilizer plants and Chemical units.
One significant hindrance to development of market for Helixchangers is lack of established design standards. As a result, the popularity of and preference for these heat exchangers is rather low.
Final product at the point of dispatch
Moreover, in absence of established design standards, it is challenging to manufacture the Helixchanger to meet the thermal efficiency requirements of the process licensor. TEMA INDIA LIMITED has achieved this feat and has supplied over 100 Helixchangers to elite clientele in India and overseas.
