Numerical Simulation of the Heat Transfer Inside a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Considering Different Variations in the Geometric Parameters of the Design

Abstract

The present study aims to analyze the heat transfer variations in different models of shell and tube heat exchangers considering geometric variations in the baffle angles and in the tube’s profiles. Each baffle configuration and geometric variation in the profiles were tested under different mass flow rates (0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 kg·s−1) in the shell to study the heat transfer improvement. The models were simulated using a CFD simulation software ANSYS Fluent including an experimental geometry which was used to validate the simulation process. The experiment results are in good agreement with the CFD results. The analysis of the results shows that an angle of 60° in the baffles generated the highest heat flow (more than 40 kW) with an inclination to the cold flow inlet and a mixed distribution considering a mass flow rate of 1 kg·s−1 in the shell. In addition, the horizontal elliptic profile achieved a heat flow higher than 29 kW with a mass flow rate of 0.5 kg·s−1 in the shell.

Advances in Numerical Heat Transfer and Fluid Flow

“…The efficiency of heat exchange inside a shell and a tube heat exchanger is one of the main challenges of CFD. Estupinan-Campos et al [15] numerically analysed the influence of geometric variations in baffle angles and the tube profile on heat transfer. They considered the turbulent flow of hot water in the inner tube and cold water in the outer tube.…”

“…The results of numerical predictions using Ansys software were compared with the measurements by Bicer et al [16], achieving an average error equal to 3.15%. The authors recommended parameters such as the height of the baffle walls and the inclination of the deflector, which are given the highest efficiency of heat exchange inside a shell and a tube heat exchanger [15].…”