A Numerical Study of Single-phase Forced Convective Heat Transfer in Tube in Tube Heat Exchangers

Three dimensional simulations in tube in tube heat exchangers are investigated numerically in this study. In these simulations forced convective heat transfer and laminar flow of single-phase water are considered. In order to measure heat transfer parameters in these heat exchangers, FLUENT CFD Solver is used in this numerical method. For the purpose of creating geometry and exert boundary and initial conditions in the present model, finite volume method in Computational Fluid Dynamics is used in this study. In the present study, at each Z-location, variation of local temperatures, heat flux and Nusselt number at the whole tube is investigated in detail. Thereafter, averaged computational Nusselt number in this model is calculated. In addition, conceivable pressure drops have been obtained at each Z-location in this model. Then, pressure drop values in the present model are explored. Finally, all the numerical results for this kind of heat exchanger will be discussed precisely.

Authors:

• P. Mohajeri Khameneh
• I. Mirzaie
• N. Pourmahmoud
• M. Rahimi
• S. Majidyfar

Keywords:

• Heat exchanger
• Laminar flow
• CFD
• Nusseltnumber
• Tube in tube
• pressure drop.

References:

[1] D. Butterworth and C. F. Mascone, "Heat Transfer Heads Into
the 21st Century," Chem. Eng. Prog., Sept., pp. 30-37 1991.
[2] R. K. Shah, et al., Compact Heat Exchangers, Hemishphere
Publishing Co., NewYork 1990.
[3] J. M. Robertson, "The Development of Compact Heat
Exchangers to Save Weight, Space, and Power Offshore,"
TEC88 Conference: Recent Advances in Heat Exchangers, Oct.
12-13, Grenoble, UK 1988.
[4] Rawlins, Timmerhaus and Radebaugh, " Measurement of
Performance of a Spiral Wound Polyimide Regenerator in Pulse
Tube Refrigerator ", Adv. Cryogenic Eng., Vol.37, part B, p.947,
1991.
[5] J. A. Crunkleton, J. L. Smith, Jr. and Y. Iwasa, " High Pressure
Ratio Cryocooler with Integral Expander and Heat Exchanger",
Adv. Cryogenic Eng., vol.33, p.809, 1988.
[6] E. B. Ratts, J. L. Smith, Jr. and Y. Iwasa, " Heat Transfer and
Friction Factor Data for Gap Helical Screen Fin Counter Flow
Heat Exchanger", Adv. Cryogenic Eng., vol.39, part A, pp.1607-
1614, 1993.
[7] R. B. Fleming, " The Effect of Flow Distribution In Parallel
Channels of Counter Flow Heat Exchangers ", Adv. Cryogenic
Eng., vol.12, pp. 352-362, 1967.
[8] A. E. Bergles, "Heat Transfer EnhancementÔÇöThe
Encouragement and Accommodation of High Fluxes", Trans,
ASME J. Heat Transfer, vol. 119, pp. 8-19, 1997.
[9] R. L. Webb, Principles of Enhancement Heat Transfer, Wiley,
1994.
[10] P. Stehlik, J. Nemcansky, D. Kral, and L. W. Swanson,
"Comparison of Correction Factors for Shell-and-Tube Heat
Exchangers with Segmental or Helical Baffles", Heat Transfer
Eng., vol. 15, pp. 55-65, 1994.
[11] D. Kral, P. Stehlik, H. J. van der Ploeg and B. I. Master,
"Helical Baffles in Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers, Part I:
Experimental Verification", Heat Transfer Eng., vol. 17, pp. 93-
101, 1996.
[12] F. P. Incropera, D. P. DeWitt, T. L. Bergman, A. S. Lavine,
"Introduction to Heat Transfer", Fifth edition, Wiley , Newyork,
2007.