Design and Simulation of Counter Flow Heat Exchanger with Fins and Internal Ribs

Abstract

A Heat Exchanger is a device to transfer heat from fluid at higher temperature to fluid at lower temperature with highest efficiency. Designed for various applications such as preheating the water before sending it into boiler for generation of steam. This work is carried out with the primary objective of increasing the thermal efficiency of the procedure heat transfer process. There are different types of heat exchangers from which shell and tube heat exchanger is considered for this present work. High temperature water passes through the copper tubes and low temperature water flows outside the copper tubes. To enhance the rate of heat, transfer the modified design is implemented. The design consists of fins outside the copper tubes to increase the surface area in contact with outside fluid. Also, ribs are provided inside the copper tubes for increasing the turbulence along with more area of contact. This paper mainly deals with design, modelling and CFD analysis of the heat exchanger. Overall heat transfer coefficient of the fins and internal ribs of heat exchanger is based on the results of effectiveness-NTU approach and LMTD approach. Modelling of various components are presented with the help of standard modelling software, solid works. Simulation of the process is done using ANSYS. The simulated results obtained in the software are compared with the published experimental results which are very close to our modified design heat exchanger and it is found that the results are very close to experimental results.