Heat exchangers can have different internal
configurations. For shell and tube types, the
difference in configuration depends on how many
times the tubes pass through the shell. Below are
diagrams of a one-pass and a two-pass design.
In addition to one-pass or two-pass designs, the
direction of the supply fluid and the binary fluid
relative to each other effects the heat transfer. A
Counterflow heat exchanger is the most efficient,
where the hot fluid enters enters at the opposite
end of the heat exchanger as the cold fluid. The
fluids flow in opposite directions.
A plate-type heat exchanger
loses about 3-5 degrees Celsius between
the geothermal and binary loop. A greater delta T
between geothermal and
process translates to more effective heat
transfer. Also, thelower the geothermal temperature, the
larger the heat
exchanger required to achieve a desired amount of
heat extraction.
One-pass shell-and-tube Heat Exchanger
Two-Pass Shell-and-tube Heat Exchanger