Experimental Study of Stationary-Head/Channel Cover STHE Prototype Using ε-NTU Method

Abstract

Our research focuses on the performance evaluation of the small shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHE) – laboratory type. The experiment used the prototype design of stationary-head/channel cover using the ring rubber, which separate the hot and cold fluid in a chamber. The stationary-head prototypes unusually are designed using low cost manufacture and simple construction, without bolt or nut to join both the stationary-head and shell. The shell has four holes to supply hot/cold fluid, and next to the tube-sheet hole to supply cold/hot fluid, the position both of them are inside the stationary-head. The single and double segmental baffles were used in this study. Calculation of thermal performance and effectiveness of STHE were calculated based on e-NTU method. The correlation of heat transfer proposed was based on the unique construction of stationary-head design for the effectiveness of STHE. The data were collected from the both single and double segmental baffles, which were investigated by varying flow rate. The investigation including Reynolds and Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient, and pressure drop which all effects of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger effectiveness. The results show that the ratio of the actual heat transfers for single segmental was higher than double segmental and the average effectiveness of single segmental baffle was 10 to 30% less than the double segmental baffles.