An improved heat exchanger which resists fouling of the heat exchange
surface by minimizing the temperature difference between the heat
exchanger surface and the fluid stream in contact with the heat exchange
surface. In one embodiment, a heat exchanger comprises an outer shell,
the outer shell comprising a first inlet operable to pass a first fluid
stream, an inner shell at least partially disposed within the outer
shell, the inner shell comprising a second inlet and an outlet operable
to pass the first fluid stream, and a heat exchange surface comprising a
plurality of tubes operable to pass a second fluid stream.