Performance analysis of heat transfer parameters in shell and tube heat exchanger with circumferential turbulator

Abstract

Performance of heat exchanger is evaluated by the value of heat transfer coefficients, Reynolds number, Nusselt number, temperature distribution along the length, residence time and pressure drop. Improving these parameters for better performance is the main focus in designing the heat exchanger. In that view, helical coil gives more turbulence to the fluid flowing through it that leads to improved tube side heat transfer coefficient. For increasing the turbulence in cold flow, turbulators can be used in the circumferential area between helical coil and shell. In this work, heat transfer rate of shell and helical coil heat exchanger is improved by using circumferential turbulators. For the same mass flow rate of cold fluid different hot fluid mass flow rates (0.03 kg/s, 0.06 kg/s, 0.09 kg/s and 0.12 kg/s) were fixed for taking readings and the improvement is obtained by calculation of performance parameters. The temperature distribution along the length of the heat exchanger is plotted for different flow rates. Results show that, increasing the mass flow rate of cold fluid above the mass flow rate of hot fluid decreases the performance.