Thermal performance of a helical shell and tube heat exchanger without fin, with circular fins, and with V-shaped circular fins applying on the coil

Abstract

This numerical study analyzes the thermal performance of a helical shell and tube heat exchanger without a fin, with circular fins, and with cut (V-shaped) circular fins (with an angle of 15°) applying on the coil. The obtained results showed that in both simple and circular finned heat exchangers when the fluid velocity (both hot and cold) on the shell side is higher than the fluid velocity (both hot and cold) on the tube side, the heat transfer improves. It is also found that flowing the cold water through the shell increases its velocity and flowing the hot fluid through the coil results in higher heat transfer values. Moreover, the results revealed that the highest heat transfer magnitude designates the circular finned heat exchanger with a cold water velocity of 3 m s−1 entering the shell and a hot water velocity of 1 m s−1 entering the tube. Finally, it is found that the cut circular fins effects on the helical shell and tube heat exchanger efficiency and heat transfer are insignificant in comparison with the circular fins.