N-SHE1

Spiral Heat Exchangers use a single continuous flow channel wound into a compact spiral — inherently self-cleaning, since the constant curvature generates centrifugal scrubbing action that keeps the channel clear. That makes them the go-to choice for fouling-prone, viscous, or high-solids-content fluids that would quickly clog a conventional plate or tube unit.

N-SHE1 software sizes Type 1 spiral configurations using calculations built around genuinely spiral-specific flow patterns and channel geometry, rather than correlations adapted from straight-channel exchangers. It accounts for the changing channel curvature along the spiral length, which affects heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop differently than a constant-geometry channel would.

The edge: spiral flow behavior doesn't follow the same correlations as plate or tube exchangers, and treating it as if it does produces sizing errors that only show up after fabrication. Our tool is purpose-built for spiral geometry specifically, so the results you get are accurate for the equipment you're actually buying.

Because spiral geometry is less commonly modeled than plate or tube exchangers, we've validated our calculation approach against published performance data and real installed units, rather than relying purely on theoretical channel-flow equations that can drift from actual field performance.