Numerical simulation of triple concentric-tube heat exchangers

Abstract

A detailed one-dimensional steady and transient numerical simulation of the thermal and fluid-dynamic behaviour of triple concentric-tube heat exchangers has been developed. The governing equations (continuity, momentum and energy) inside the inner tube and the annulus (inner and outer), together with the energy equations in the inner, intermediate and outermost tube wall and insulation, are solved iteratively in a segregated manner. The discretized governing equations in the zones with fluid flow are coupled using an implicit step by step method. This formulation requires the use of empirical information 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 inner and intermediate tube walls and the outermost tube wall with insulation. All the flow variables (enthalpies, temperatures, pressures, mass fractions, velocities, heat fluxes, etc.) 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 results obtained from the technical literature are presented in order to verify and validate the model.