Amongst of all type of exchangers, shell and tube exchangers are most commonly used heat exchange equipment. STHEs can handle higher temperatures and pressures and hence higher heat duty. This is because besides providing a higher overall heat transfer coefficient, additions can also be made to negate thermal expansion effects and the thickness can also be varied From the design point of view, STHEs are the most versatile of all heat exchangers. Being tubular in shape, heads / closures of required shape and thickness can be used. The number of tubes and tube pitch can be selected according to operating conditions. Expansion bellows can be used to negate thermal expansion effects, baffles if different cuts and spacings can be used to influence the overall heat transfer coefficients and there’s even something called a floating head which can be added to negate thermal expansion of the tubes. The number of passes on shell side and tube side can be altered as well.