DSSHEs improve efficiency by removing fouling layers, increasing turbulence in the case of high viscosity flow, and avoiding the generation of crystals and other process by-products.
Their goal is to exchange the maximum amount of heat per unit area by generating as much turbulence as possible below given pumping power limits.
However, these geometry conformation technologies, the calculation of optimum mass flows and other turbulence related factors become diminished when fouling appears, obliging designers to fit significantly larger heat transfer areas.
There are several types of fouling, including particulate accumulation, precipitation (crystallization), sedimentation, generation of ice layers, etc.
There are basically three types of DSSHEs depending on the arrangement of the blades: Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques are the standard tools to analyse and evaluate heat exchangers and similar equipment.