Different tube bundles effect on the shell-and-tube heat exchanger performance

Abstract

Purpose This paper aims to present a numerical investigation on laboratory-scale segmental baffles shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHX) having various tube bundles and baffle configuration. Design/methodology/approach To discover the higher performance the thermohydraulic behavior of shell-side fluid flow with circular, elliptical and twisted oval tube bundles with segmental and inclined segmental baffled is compared. Shell side turbulent flow and heat transfer are simulated by a finite volume discretization approach using SolidWorks Flow Simulation. To achieve greater configuration performance of this device, the following two approaches is considered: using the inclined baffle with 200 angles of inclination and applying the different tube bundle. Findings Different parameters as heat transfer rate, pressure drop (Δp), heat transfer coefficient (h) and heat transfer coefficient to pressure drop ratio (h/Δp) are presented and discussed. Besides, for considering the effect of pressure penalty and heat transfer improvement instantaneously, the efficiency evaluation coefficient (EEC) in the fluid flow and heat transfer based on the power required to provide the real heat transfer augmentation are used. Originality/value Obtained results displayed that, at the equal mass flow rate, the twisted oval tubes with segmental baffle decrease the pressure drop 53.6% and 35.64% rather than that the circular and elliptical tubes bundle, respectively. By comparing the (h/Δp) ratio, it can result that the STHX with twisted oval tubes bundle (both segmental and inclined baffle) has better performance than other kinds of the tube bundles. Present results showed that the values of the EEC for all provided models are higher than 1, except for elliptical tube bundles with segmental baffles. The STHX with twisted oval tube bundles and segmental baffle gives the highest EEC value equal to 1.16 in the range of investigated mass flow.