The present invention comprises a novel heat exchanger configuration which
preferably uses the axial flow direction for the shell-side fluid and in
which dead zones and areas of stagnation are significantly minimized or
eliminated and in which inlet region tube erosion is addressed by
providing a sacrificial portion of tube length so as to make repair and
replacement of the eroded portion of tubes significantly cheaper, easier
and with minimal process interruption. Because axial flow is employed with
respect to the shell-side fluid according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention, tube vibration problems are generally eliminated.
