Numerical study on structure optimization and heat transfer characteristic of distributed pulsating flow heat exchanger

ABSTRACT

Distributed pulsating flow planar tube bundle heat exchanger (DPFPTB-HE) can improve heat transfer and have a high prospect of application in the industry. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software Fluent was utilized as an analysis tool, and the factors affecting heat transfer in heat exchangers were comprehensively studied based on the theory of fluid mechanics and heat transfer in this article. The local average surface Nusselt number(Nu_v) evaluated the heat transfer performance. Results found that the DPFPTB-HE proposed in this paper has more uniform distribution of cold fluid in the shell domain and higher heat transfer efficiency in each layer of the tube bundle compared with the conventional planar tube bundle heat exchanger (PTB-HE). In this paper’s single-factor analysis experimental session, the study showed that with the inlet velocity increases, Nu_v increases; as the length of the branch pipe increases, Nu_v decreases; branch pipe diameter increases, Nu_v decreases. The results obtained Nu_v by applying the optimal experimental parameters selected by the Taguchi method were 7.22% larger than the maximum value in the control group. The numerical result and methodology are beneficial for providing further insight into guiding the optimization of heat exchanger structure and promoting industrial progress.

KEYWORDS:

• Planar tube bundle heat exchanger
• vortex generator
• pulsating flow
• Taguchi method
• optimal parameters

Acknowledgments

Lei Chen and Hongxin Zhang contributed equally to this article, and both are the first authors of this paper, hereby states. The research results of this paper are gratefully acknowledged by the following grants:

(1) Natural Science Foundation project of Xinjiang, China, Vibration of the elastic bundle in heat exchanger induced by distributed pulsating flow (Grant No. 2020D01C073).

(2) 2021 Teaching and scientific research project of Changji College, Changji, Chian, Study on vibration mechanism and Heat transfer enhancement of elastic tube bundle heat exchanger (Grant No. 21KY006).

Disclosure statement

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

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Natural Science Foundation project of Xinjiang, [Grant No. 2020D01C073]; 2021 Teaching and scientific research project of Changji College [Grant No. 21KY006].

Notes on contributors

Lei Chen

Lei Chen, serving as Lecturer in School of Chemical Engineering, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People R China. He focuses on pressure vessel safety technology, heat transfer enhancement, and CFD analysis. He has published several research papers in reputed journals and conferences.

Hongxin Zhang

Hongxin Zhang, contributed equally to this work and should be considered the co-first author. She graduated from Xinjiang University in 2017. She is working as Lecturer in the School of Energy and Control Engineering of Changji University, Changji, Xinjiang, People R China. She is focusing on the heat transfer of heat exchangers. Participated in two Chinese National Projects and hosted one Provincial Project.

Song Huang

Song Huang, serving as Senior Engineer in Logistics Service Center, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People R China. He focuses on electrical technology and heat exchange equipment upgrades.

Jianjun Li

Jianjun Li, he is working as Engineer in Engineering Training Center, Xinjiang University, Urumqi, Xinjiang, People R China. His research area of interest includes thermal energy and laser welding.