Numerical design and investigation of heat transfer enhancement and performance for an annulus with continuous helical baffles in a double-pipe heat exchanger

Abstract

In this paper, the design and thermo-hydraulic performance of a double pipe heat exchanger with helical baffles in the annulus side, are investigated numerically. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model, using the software FLUENT, have been performed to investigate the annulus side fluid flow, heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop for different configurations. A numerical analysis is conducted for different values of Reynolds number and baffle spacing (0.025–0.1m). The numerical model was first validated for a simple double pipe heat exchanger by comparison with empirical correlations. The model was then used to investigate the helical baffles effects. The results obtained for a helically baffled annulus side provide enhanced heat transfer performance and high-pressure drop compared to the simple double-pipe exchangers. Thermal performance and high-pressure drop is an increasing function of baffle spacing and Re. In addition, empirical correlations expressing the results were developed based on curve fitting.