This shell is packed full of tubes and there are temperature extremes between the shell side and the tubeside (note the expansion joint in the shell which looks like a thick ring around the middle of the exchanger).
Yes it is made to be a vertical mount and as you noted, the alignment of the supports give that away to one who has studied these or seen some in use. Thank you for your question.
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This shell is packed full of tubes and there are temperature extremes between the shell side and the tubeside (note the expansion joint in the shell which looks like a thick ring around the middle of the exchanger).