What kind of heat exchanger is used in the tubular sterilizer?

The tubular sterilizers produced by Leno Enterprises feature a multi-tubular heat exchanger, which consists of a shell-and-tube structure with multiple parallel tubes forming a composite tube. These sections are connected together, with each section referred to as a pass. The inner tubes of each pass are connected by U-shaped tubes, while the outer tubes are connected by branch pipes. The heat exchanger is typically arranged in an upper and lower configuration and fixed to a support frame.

In this system, the product flows through the inner tube, while the heating medium flows in the opposite direction through the outer tube, exchanging heat through the inner tube wall. Multi-tube heat exchangers are particularly suitable for high-viscosity products, products containing fiber and large fruit or meat particles, and products with high acidity or corrosiveness. They are also ideal for low-acid, sterile products containing particles, such as ketchup, juice, coffee drinks, margarine, and ice cream. Additionally, these sterilization systems are widely used in the production of parboiled, high-temperature, and ultra-high-temperature sterilized milk.

Compared to other types of heat exchangers, multi-tube heat exchangers offer several advantages. They improve scaling, extend continuous production time by more than double, and have a wider range of applications, handling both thin and viscous materials. Maintenance is relatively simple, requiring only O-ring replacement without the need for bulky tools. They also provide high efficiency, with a heat transfer efficiency that surpasses coil-type systems and is comparable to plate-type systems. However, they are more expensive to manufacture and require a larger footprint.