BAFFLE_THICKNESS

This function estimates shell-and-tube heat exchanger baffle or support plate thickness from shell diameter, unsupported tube span, and TEMA service class. It applies empirical TEMA guidance where required thickness increases with larger shell size and longer unsupported span.

In simplified form, the result follows a standard-based relation t = f(D_{shell}, L_{unsupported}, \text{service}).

Excel Usage

=BAFFLE_THICKNESS(Dshell, L_unsupported, service)

Dshell (float, required): Shell inner diameter (m).
L_unsupported (float, required): Unsupported tube length between baffles (m).
service (str, optional, default: “C”): TEMA service type (-).

Returns (float): Baffle or support plate thickness (m).

Example 1: Baffle thickness for refinery service

Inputs:

Dshell	L_unsupported	service
0.3	50	R

Excel formula:

=BAFFLE_THICKNESS(0.3, 50, "R")

Expected output:

0.0095

Example 2: Baffle thickness for class C service

Inputs:

Dshell	L_unsupported	service
0.6	40	C

Excel formula:

=BAFFLE_THICKNESS(0.6, 40, "C")

Expected output:

0.0127

Example 3: Baffle thickness for chemical service

Inputs:

Dshell	L_unsupported	service
0.45	30	B

Excel formula:

=BAFFLE_THICKNESS(0.45, 30, "B")

Expected output:

0.0127

Example 4: Baffle thickness for larger shell

Inputs:

Dshell	L_unsupported	service
1	60	C

Excel formula:

=BAFFLE_THICKNESS(1, 60, "C")

Expected output:

0.0159

Python Code

Show Code

from ht.hx import baffle_thickness as hx_baffle_thickness

def baffle_thickness(Dshell, L_unsupported, service='C'):
    """
    Compute baffle thickness from shell diameter and support spacing.

    See: https://ht.readthedocs.io/en/latest/ht.hx.html

    This example function is provided as-is without any representation of accuracy.

    Args:
        Dshell (float): Shell inner diameter (m).
        L_unsupported (float): Unsupported tube length between baffles (m).
        service (str, optional): TEMA service type (-). Valid options: Class C, Class R, Class B. Default is 'C'.

    Returns:
        float: Baffle or support plate thickness (m).
    """
    try:
        result = hx_baffle_thickness(Dshell=Dshell, L_unsupported=L_unsupported, service=service)
        return result
    except Exception as e:
        return f"Error: {str(e)}"

Online Calculator

Dshell *

Shell inner diameter (m).

L_unsupported *

Unsupported tube length between baffles (m).

service

TEMA service type (-).