Numerical study on the effect of baffle structure on the heat transfer performance of elastic tube bundle heat exchanger

Abstract

To make up for the research gaps in the existing literature on the effect of baffle structural parameters on the vibration and heat transfer of elastic tube bundle (ETB) heat exchangers, and improve the comprehensive heat transfer performance (HTP) of heat exchangers, based on an improved elastic tube bundle (I-ETB) heat exchanger used in previous studies, using the bi-directional fluid-structure interaction calculation method, the effects of the baffle structure improvement (height and curvature) on the comprehensive HTP of the I-ETB heat exchanger at different inlet velocities (Uin) were numerically studied. The results show that: while the height factor increases from 0.70 to 0.80, the vibration amplitude of I-ETBs decreases maximum by 10.05 %, and the heat transfer coefficient (h) of I-ETB increases maximum by 5.50 %. Increasing the baffle height improves the comprehensive HTP while suppressing the vibration of the I-ETBs. While the baffle curvature is 10°, the vibration of I-ETBs is the most intense, with the amplitude of the I-ETBs improving maximum by 10.79 %. The Nusselt number per unit pressure drop Nu/ΔP and performance evaluation criteria PEC and JF (a dimensionless number related to Colburn factor j and Fanning friction factor f) values of the heat exchanger all reach the maximum while the baffle curvature is 10°. The increase of baffle curvature has a positive effect on the vibration-enhanced HTP of the I-ETBs, and when the curvature is 10°, the comprehensive HTP of the heat exchanger is better.