INFLUENCE OF BAFFLES IN HEAT TRANSFER FLUID CHARACTERISTICS USING CFD EVALUATION

Abstract

ABSTRACT This research focuses on the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics of shell side flow in shell and tube heat exchanger. A CFD analysis is employed to investigate the shell side stream and a numerical simulation is being validated. The baffles configurations of shell and tube heat exchanger are modified such that the heat transfer characteristics are improved. The orientations of alternate baffles were varied with various angles and named as case 1-5. Out of six baffles, the odd number baffles (1,3,5) from the inlet side are at constant position (0°:0°:0° inclination) in all the cases whereas the baffles (2,4,6) are altered with various angular orientations (0°:0°:0°; 45°:45°:45°; 45°:-45°:45°; 90°:90°:90°; 90°:-90°:90° inclination). The velocity is not increased so much in 45° baffle configuration compared to other cases but the heat transfer coefficient is improved. So, 45°:±45°:45° baffle configuration are proposed that produce better performance without altering the heat exchanger designs.