CFD simulations of convective heat transfer in actively heated tube bundle

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Active heating is used as a flow assurance technique to prevent the huge temperature drop of crude oil while transporting from wells to facilities, which creates a friendly environment for hydrate formation and solid depositions. In the present study, convective heat transfer in tube bundle with three internal tubes was investigated through computational fluid dynamics simulation. A three dimensional model for existing bundle was developed. The model described the heat transfer occurring inside the bundle, aiming to heat up or at least maintain the production fluid temperature. The heat transfer from heating pipe to the whole bundle can be visualized through the temperature contours and the temperature gradient at the outlets. The effect of heating medium temperature and flow velocity are studied in the developed model.