Numerical simulation of double-pipe condensers and evaporators

Abstract

A detailed one-dimensional steady and transient numerical simulation of the thermal and fluid-dynamic behaviour of double-pipe heat exchangers (evaporators and condensers) has been carried out. The governing equations (continuity, momentum and energy) inside the internal tube and the annulus, together with the energy equation in the internal tube wall, external tube wall and insulation, are solved iteratively in a segregated manner. The discretized governing equations in the zones with fluid flow are efficiently coupled using an implicit step by step method. This formulation requires the use of empirical correlations for the evaluation of convective heat transfer, shear stress and void fraction. An implicit central difference numerical scheme and a line-by-line solver was used in the internal and external tube walls and insulation. A special treatment has been implemented in order to consider transitions (single-phase/two-phase, dry-out,…). All the flow variables (enthalpies, temperatures, pressures, mass fractions, velocities, heat fluxes,…) together with the thermophysical properties are evaluated at each point of the grid in which the domain is discretized. Different numerical aspects and comparisons with analytical and experimental results are presented in order to verify and validate the model.