Experimental investigation on heat transfer analysis of conical coil heat exchanger with 90° cone angle

Abstract

In the present study, an experimental investigation on thermal performance of the conical coil heat exchanger with 90° conical coil heat exchanger is reported. Three different conical coil heat exchangers of same mean coil diameter (Dm = 200 mm) with different tube diameters (di = 8, 10, 12.5 mm) are analyzed under steady state condition. The analysis is carried out for the tube side hot fluid flow range of 10–100 lph (Re = 500–5,000), while the shell side flow range of 30–90 lph. The data available from experimentation leads to evaluate heat transfer coefficients for inside and outside the tube of the conical coil heat exchanger by Wilsons plot method. The calculations are further extended to estimate Nusselt Number (Nu) and effectiveness. The empirical correlations are proposed for predicting Nu and the outlet temperatures of hot and cold fluids. The predicted empirical correlations show reasonable agreement with the experimental results within the given range of parameters.