A strategy of mixed tube bundle to improve anti-deposition performance and heat transfer

Abstract

Ash deposition is a key issue that limits the energy utilization and safety operation of high-energy-consuming equipment in industrial applications, and the clarification of the heat and mass transfer process under ash deposition is vital. To improve the anti-deposition performance of tube bundles and mitigate heat transfer deterioration, a mixed strategy with attached small cylinders arranged behind the tube has been proposed, which overcomes the difficulties faced by irregular and extended surface tube bundles in manufacturing, cleaning, maintenance, and energy consumption. A CFD model incorporating multiple deposition mechanisms is established to investigate the dynamic deposition behavior, heat transfer characteristics, and comprehensive performance of the tube bundles. In particular, the dynamic growth process of the deposition layer on heat transfer surface in this work is achieved through a dynamic mesh smoothing method based on inverse distance weighting interpolation. Parametric studies are conducted on different arrangements and angles (α = 15° - 65°) of the attached cylinders to obtain the optimal comprehensive performance design. The results show that the attached cylinders suppress the formation and development of the wake vortex caused by the primary tube bundle, significantly enhancing the anti-deposition performance of the tube bundles. The length of vortex evolution increases and the separation point of the boundary layer extends with the angles, leading to a transition of the vortex shedding regime between tube bundles. Compared to the benchmark case, Case 1 exhibits a higher anti-deposition and heat transfer performance, where the deposition mass decreases by 43.98% and the PEC reaches the maximum value of 1.11 at α = 45°, which delivers the best comprehensive performance. The results can provide more realistic predictions for the practical design, operation, and maintenance of thermal equipment.