CFD simulation on shell-and-tube heat exchangers with small-angle helical baffles

doi:10.1007/s11705-015-1510-x

Front. Chem. Sci. Eng.

2015, Vol. 9

Issue (2) : 183-193 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-015-1510-x

RESEARCH ARTICLE

CFD simulation on shell-and-tube heat exchangers with small-angle helical baffles

Minhua ZHANG^1,²,Fang MENG^1,²,Zhongfeng GENG^1,^2,^*(

)

1. Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, R & D Center for Petrochemical Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, Tianjin 300072, China

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Abstract

Shell-and-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles is superior to that with segmental baffles in reducing pressure drop, eliminating dead zone and lowering the risks of vibration of tube bundle. This paper focused on the small-angle helical baffles that have been merely reported in open literature. These baffles are noncontinuous helical baffles with a helix angle of 10° to 30°, and their shapes are 1/4 ellipse, 1/4 sector and 1/3 sector. To assess the integrative performance, α/?p is employed, and the calculated results show that among the three baffle shapes the heat exchangers with a 1/4 sector helical baffle have the lowest pressure drop. At β = 10° and 20°, 1/4 sector helical baffle heat exchangers show the best integrative performance; at β = 30°, 1/4 ellipse and 1/4 sector helical baffle heat exchangers perform almost the same. For the study of helix angles, we found that 30° has the best integrative performance at low mass flow rate, almost the same as 20° at high mass flow rate.

Keywords heat transfer pressure drop helical baffle CFD

Corresponding Author(s): Zhongfeng GENG

Online First Date: 26 May 2015 Issue Date: 14 July 2015

Cite this article:

Fang MENG,Zhongfeng GENG,Minhua ZHANG. CFD simulation on shell-and-tube heat exchangers with small-angle helical baffles[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(2): 183-193.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-015-1510-x
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2015/V9/I2/183

Fig.1 Configurations of helical baffle heat exchanger: (a) Front view; (b) Left view

Tab.1 Geometry parameters of the models

Tab.2 Thermo physical properties of shell side water

Fig.6 Meshes on the helical baffle heat exchanger: (a) left view; (b) outside wall

Fig.7 Comparison of the experimental results and simulated results in the shell side: (a) pressure drop ?P; (b) heat transfer coefficient α

Fig.8 Path lines of segmental baffle and helical baffle heat exchangers. (a) segmental baffle heat exchanger; (b) helical baffle heat exchanger

Fig.9 Velocity vectors both in longitudinal and cross section. (a) segmental baffle; (b) helical baffle

Fig.10 Contours of temperature both in longitudinal and cross section. (a) segmental baffle; (b) helical baffle

Fig.11 Comparison of the pressure drop (a) ?P, heat transfer coefficient (b) α, heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop (c) α/?P on the shell side between segmental baffle and helical baffle heat exchangers

Fig.12 The performance comparison of the heat exchanger with different baffle shapes: (a?c) β= 10°, (d?f) β = 20°, and (g?i) β = 30°

Fig.13 Comparison of the helical baffle heat exchanger with different helix angles

Tab.1

Tab.2 Greek symbols

Tab.3 Subscripts

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