Condenser Design

This software review is focused the Shell & Tube condenser thermal design calculations, which is a necessary step in many industrial processes. The software is capable of performing thermal design calculations for horizontal, vertical, and reflux condensers. One of its main features is its support for both SI Units and English (U.S) Units of measurement, as well as a units converter containing 23 measurements and 200 units.

Through the software, users can import physical properties data to both the hot side and cold side from Microsoft Excel, making calculations more efficient. Additionally, WeBBusterZ Physical properties database is included in the software, allowing users to easily access this information. The software also includes the ability to save and load results.

Results can be exported to an Engineering Data Sheet in both excel and pdf formats. Additionally, results summaries can be exported to Microsoft Word or printed. The software calculates horizontal (shell side/tube side), vertical (shell side/tube side), and reflux condensers thermal design. It has the ability to perform full or partial condensation (subject to condensation model selection), as well as subcooling, superheated vapor, zone analysis, shear controlled, and gravity controlled condensation (subject to condensation model).

Users are able to see the basis and assumptions that the software makes during calculations in a visible panel. The software supports single phase vapor condensation on the hot side and liquid coolant on the cold side, but only with bare tubes. It also supports TEMA designations, calculating unknown cold side temperature and unknown hot or cold side flow rate.

The software includes the ability to calculate triangular and square pitch tube orientation, and detailed results display many calculated variables such as Duty, Area, Number of tubes, Shell/tube velocities, flooding velocity, and operating velocity for reflux condenser. Other variables include Reynolds numbers, Condensation heat transfer coefficient, flow regime, Number of Baffles and Baffle spacing, Scale resistance (dirt factor), Overall heat transfer coefficient for both Clean and Fouled conditions, and Pressure drops.

Users are able to track calculation changes from trial to trial. Additionally, the software includes a basic physical properties estimation database separated from the main application, which contains 1,450 components and can be accessed with the full version of the software. Lastly, users are able to add their own properties in the additional user databases, including tube counts, standard tube sizes tables, thermal conductivities, and more.