Flow mechanism and heat transfer enhancement in longitudinal-flow tube bundle of shell-and-tube heat exchanger

Abstract

The flow disturbance and heat transfer mechanism in the tube bundle of rod baffle shell-and-tube heat exchanger were analyzed, on the basis of which and combined with the concept of heat transfer enhancement in the core flow, a new type of shell-and-tube heat exchanger with combination of rod and van type spoiler was designed. Corresponding mathematical and physical models on the shell side about the new type heat exchanger were established, and fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics were numerically analyzed. The simulation results showed that heat transfer coefficient of the new type of heat exchanger approximated to that of rod baffle heat exchanger, but flow pressure drop was much less than the latter, indicating that comprehensive performance of the former is superior to that of the latter. Compared with rod baffle heat exchanger, heat transfer coefficient of the heat exchanger under investigation is higher under same pressure drop, especially under the high Reynolds numbers.