CFD Simulation Studies on the Performance ofRectangular Coil Heat Exchanger

摘要

The simulation studies are made to understand the concept of heat transfer by convection in a rectangular coiled type heat exchanger. The rectangular coil heat exchanger consists of inner and outer coil arrangements with several straight portions and bends so that the exterior flow is very similar to flow within tube-bundles. The present work focuses mainly on exploring the various flow pattern and temperature distribution through the pipe. Computer simulation studies were performed for four different angle of tube bundle inclination (0°, 30°,60°, and 90) with two set flow arrangements (inline and staggered arrangement) in the shell side of the heat exchanger. The simulation results show that the effect of the tube bundle inclination on the fluid velocity distribution and the heat transfer performance is observed maximum for the coil with tube bundle inclination angle between 30 degrees and 60 degrees with the staggered arrangement than with the inline arrangement due to proper mixing in the shell side and the outside flow over the tube bundle helps to create turbulence without increasing the velocity in the shell side of the heat exchanger.