Investigating the experimental parameters of a rib triple pipe heat exchanger

Abstract

In the current research, the triple concentric-pipe heat exchanger is experimentally inspected with regard to the double concentric-pipe heat exchanger. To optimize the design, the thermo-fluid of the heat exchangers has been clarified with respect to several design parameters for a counter and parallel flows. One procedure is to full the inner pipe with chilled water and the inner annulus pipe with hot water, while the outer annulus pipe, the tap water was used. The temperatures of the supplied water measured by thermocouples linked to the computer through a data acquisition unit. The flow rates of the system's water were evaluated by 3 flow-meters while the water's drop pressure were measured using a pre-calibrated digital pulse pressure transmitter. The performed flow patterns were the co-current, counter-current, co-current with counter-current flow and counter-current with co-current. The efficiency, friction factor and Nusselt number have been investigated and compared for both types of exchangers. The results showed that the triple concentric-pipe heat exchanger exhibited high heat exchanging efficiency and lower energy consumption than the double concentric-pipe heat exchanger. By the same token, better efficiency ε (around 50% greater) obtained for both counter and parallel flows. The results also revealed that with various flow arrangements, Nu, and the ε, for the triple concentric-pipe heat exchanger are greater than that for the Double concentric-pipe heat exchanger.