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ExCoil

Shell-and-tube heat exchangers

Shell and tube heat exchanger design software

Rate and size shell-and-tube heat exchangers for flooded and DX evaporators, condensers and liquid-to-liquid duties. The shell side uses Bell-Delaware, the tube layout is computed from real clearances, and one geometric model feeds the drawing, the 3D model, the STEP file, the bill of materials and the report.

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Separate add-on subscription · US$329/month · The calculator interface is available in English and Portuguese.

3D cutaway of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with tube bundle, baffles, nozzles and saddles generated by ExCoil

Real application screenshot

What it calculates

  • Applications: flooded evaporator, DX evaporator, condenser and liquid–liquid
  • TEMA shell types E, F, G, H, J, K and X; front heads A, B, C, D, N; rear heads L, M, N, P, S, T, U, W
  • Tube layouts at 30°, 45°, 60° and 90° with bundle capacity from the real outer tube limit
  • Segmental baffles, nozzles and heads located on the axial model
  • Water, brine, seawater, thermal oil and CoolProp fluids
  • Rating and sizing with explicit blocking conditions

Results and deliverables

  • Duty, U-value, LMTD correction and outlet temperatures
  • Shell and tube pressure drops and velocities
  • 2D general arrangement, tube layout and DXF
  • 3D model with STEP (AP214, millimetres) of shell, tubes, tube sheets, baffles, nozzles, heads and saddles
  • Bill of materials with empty and operating weights
  • PDF report and TEMA-style datasheet

How the shell-and-tube model works

Shell-side heat transfer and pressure drop follow the Bell-Delaware method with leakage and bypass corrections. Tube count, effective length, baffle spacing and nozzle positions come from one shared layout, so the 2D drawing, DXF, 3D view, STEP file and BOM always describe the same exchanger.

  • Bell-Delaware shell side (heat transfer and pressure drop)
  • Equivalent UA and pinch checks for phase-change duties
  • Preliminary shell thickness and tube-sheet screening based on TEMA 7th edition
  • Commercial pipe and ASME B16.5 class 150 flange dimensions for nozzles

Know the limits

  • Mechanical checks are preliminary screening, not ASME or TEMA code certification.
  • Fixed tube-sheet differential expansion is not evaluated.
  • Final design must be verified by a qualified engineer and the manufacturer's code calculations.

Frequently asked questions

Does ExCoil use the Bell-Delaware method?

Yes. Shell-side heat transfer and pressure drop use Bell-Delaware with corrections for baffle leakage, bundle bypass and baffle spacing.

Can I export the shell-and-tube model to CAD?

Yes. You can export a DXF drawing and a STEP AP214 assembly in millimetres with named parts for shell, tubes, tube sheets, baffles, nozzles, heads and saddles.

Is the design ASME or TEMA certified?

No. ExCoil performs preliminary sizing and screening. Code calculations and certification remain the responsibility of the designer and manufacturer.

How do I get access to the shell-and-tube module?

It is a separate add-on subscription, independent from the coil plans.

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