Can You Explain Pressure Differential Between Heat Exchanger Sides?

AI Thread Summary
In a heat exchanger with nitrogen gas at 35 bar on the shell side and water at 5 bar on the tube side, it is possible for water to enter the nitrogen side due to pressure differentials. The incompressibility of water means that a significant amount of nitrogen would need to leak into the water side to equalize pressures, which is unlikely. However, if nitrogen is introduced to the tube side or if external power is applied to reduce volume, water can be displaced into the gas phase. The discussion emphasizes that temperature differences are not a factor in this scenario. Understanding the dynamics of pressure and volume is crucial for managing fluid interactions in heat exchangers.
charlie95
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Pressure ?

If you have a heat exchanger. On the Shell side you have nitrogen gas at 35 bar, and on the tube side you have water at 5 bar.
Is it possible to get water into the nitrogen side?

I know the answer is yes, but I do not understand why. Is there someone who have a simple explanaton for this?
 
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If you bring some nitrogen to the other side at the same time or use some power supply, it is fine. I don't see the relation to a heat exchanger: Where is a temperature difference?
 
temperature do not matter in this case. I only wanted to know if you have gas at high pressure on one side of heatexchanger/cooler/heater and water at low pressure one the other side if there is possible to get Liquid into the gas phase? temperature do not matter in this case.
 
See above:
mfb said:
If you bring some nitrogen to the other side at the same time or use some power supply, it is fine.
 
Water is (reasonably) incompressible so it would it take much nitrogen leaking into the water side to equalise the pressure?
 
Probably not, but if you want to let water out (to go the the nitrogen-side), you have to fill the volume with nitrogen or reduce the volume with external* power.

*can be gained by an expansion of the nitrogen-side.
 

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