Can You Explain Pressure Differential Between Heat Exchanger Sides?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the pressure differential in a heat exchanger where one side contains nitrogen gas at a high pressure (35 bar) and the other side contains water at a low pressure (5 bar). Participants explore whether it is possible for water to enter the nitrogen side under these conditions, focusing on the implications of pressure and the role of temperature.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions the possibility of water entering the nitrogen side, asserting that they believe it is possible but do not understand the reasoning behind it.
  • Another participant suggests that introducing nitrogen to the water side or using a power supply could facilitate the process, questioning the relevance of temperature in this scenario.
  • A different participant emphasizes that temperature is not a factor in their inquiry, focusing solely on the pressure differential between the gas and liquid phases.
  • One participant notes that water is incompressible, implying that a significant amount of nitrogen would need to leak into the water side to equalize the pressure.
  • Another participant proposes that to allow water to move to the nitrogen side, either nitrogen must be introduced or the volume must be reduced through external means, such as nitrogen expansion.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the role of temperature and the mechanisms that would allow water to enter the nitrogen side. There is no consensus on the conditions necessary for this to occur, and the discussion remains unresolved.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the assumptions regarding the behavior of gases and liquids under pressure differentials, nor have they clarified the specific conditions under which the proposed scenarios would occur.

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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