Analysis of the performance optimisation parameters of shell and tube heat exchanger using CFD

ABSTRACT

Heat exchangers have found extensive applications in the engineering sector owing to the crucial need for heat transfer and temperature regulation in the process industry. The performance analysis of a heat exchanger can either be investigated experimentally or utilizing computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The simulation of flow conditions based on CFD principles is considered as a contemporary approach for conducting performance analysis and design optimization of the heat exchanger. The paper aims to present how the performance optimization parameters of shell and tube heat exchanger effect its performance in terms of the extent of heat transfer achieved and fall in the shell outlet temperature. A standard model (Model 1) was initially defined, and seven subsequent models were created with one varying parameter as compared to Model 1 to carry out the comparative analysis. The results showed that decrease in inlet velocity, increase in thermal conductivity of the heat exchanger material, reduction in baffle spacing and use of triangular tube bundle arrangement has significant influence on the reduction of the condensate temperature. The effects of the same parameters on the temperature distribution and heat transfer rate have also been discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Heat exchangers
• CFD
• shell and tube heat exchanger
• STAR-CCM+
• heat transfer
• shell outlet temperature
• enhanced heat transfer

Data availability statement

Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analyzed in this study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Ahmad Hanan

Umer Zahid is currently working as a PhD researcher at the University of Wollongong in Wollongong, Australia. He has completed his MS degree in Mechanical Engineering from Politecnico Di Torino in Turin, Italy. He did his bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering from National University of Sciences and Technology in Islamabad, Pakistan. His research expertise lies primarily in the Finite Element Method (FEM) and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis of mechanical systems such as heat exchangers and pipeline networks.

Umer Zahid

Ahmad Hanan is a lecturer at National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan where he is teaching fluid mechanics to undergrad students. He has received his masters degree from University of Hertfordshire, UK in mechanical engineering. His research interests include thermofluids, energy conservation and computational fluid dynamics (CFD).

Tariq Feroze

Dr Tariq Feroze is an assistant professor at Military College of Engineering, National University of Sciences and Technology, Risalpur. He has qualifications in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering and Mine Ventilation (PhD). He is also a member of the Wits Digital Mine Group-Wits Mining Institute at the University of the Witwatersrand. He is skilled in the use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Software.

Sohaib Z. Khan

Sohaib Zia Khan received B.Eng degree (2002) in mechanical engineering from NED University, Pakistan, MPhil degree (2006) in mechanical engineering, and Ph.D. degree in materials engineering (2010) from The University of Manchester, UK. He worked at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Pakistan, and the Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, as an Endeavour fellowship (2016). Currently, he is an associate professor at the Islamic University of Madinah (IUM), Saudi Arabia. His research interests are materials characterization, mechanics of materials, and engineering education.