Evaluation of Hydro-Thermal Shell-Side Performance in a Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger: CFD Approach

Abstract

This work aims to improve a conventional shell-and-tube heat exchanger performance using three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics analysis based on finite element method (COMSOL Multiphysics software). Standard RANS k-ε turbulence model coupled with conjugate heat transfer model was adopted in the analysis. The influence of single-segmental baffles cut (25%, 35% and 45%) and baffles number (4, 6 and 8) on hydro-thermal shell-side performance were investigated at nozzle-based Reynolds number varied from 5,500 to 12,000. The results showed that heat transfer and pressure drop increased by increasing the number of baffles and reducing baffles cut. However, the best thermal enhancement factor of 2.15, which is based on equal pumping power constraint, was obtained for the configuration of 35% baffles cut and six baffles. To fill the gap in the literature, this study explores the importance of CFD in modelling shell-and-tube heat exchangers.