Design and Comparative Study of Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger with Different Baffle Configurations

Abstract

In this study, the pressure drop, heat transfer coefficient and performance evaluation factor (PEF) of a shell and tube heat exchanger with eight different geometrical baffle configurations are numerically investigated. The work was carried out using ANSYS. To investigate the influence of baffle on performance, four baffle spacing (86 mm, 100 mm, 120 mm and 150 mm), four baffle cuts (30%, 40%, 50% and 70%) and two baffle types (single segmental type and double segmental type) are considered. Low baffle spacing provides the most heat transfer rate and efficient overall performance of heat exchanger with the expense of pressure drop. With increase in baffle cut percentages, both pressure drop and heat transfer coefficient decreases but overall performance of heat exchanger increases. The results show that heat exchanger with double segmental type baffle (DHX) has the highest impact on heat transfer and overall performance of heat exchanger in comparison to single segmental type (SHX).