Flow baffles for shell and tube heat exchangers

An axial flow baffle plate for a shell and tube heat exchanger, the baffle plate comprising:

• a planar body configured for transverse arrangement in a longitudinally elongated shell of the shell and tube heat exchanger;
• a plurality of axial flow tube apertures each comprising a central tube hole configured to receive a tube of the heat exchanger, and an array of peripheral primary flow holes circumferentially spaced apart around the tube hole;
• the primary flow holes each interrupting the tube hole and forming a plurality of radially inward projecting tube support protrusions between the primary flow holes, each tube support protrusion being configured to engage the tube when located in the tube hole;
• a plurality of secondary flow holes in the baffle plate associated with at least some of the axial flow tube apertures, the secondary flow holes arranged in a circular pattern around and concentrically aligned with the tube hole and primary flow holes;
• and
• a plurality of tertiary flow holes formed in the baffle plate associated with the at least some of the tube apertures, the tertiary flow holes having a different diameter than the secondary flow holes;
• wherein each primary flow hole has a non-polygonal configuration.