PERFORMANCE ANALYSIS OF SHELL AND TUBE HEAT EXCHANGER BY ANSYS/CFD FOR EFFECTIVE UTILIZATION OF ENERGY

Convection heat transfer in a shell-and-tube heat ex changer using sheet fins is numerically investigated. Heat and mass transfer in the heat ex-changer are modeled under steady state to estimate the heat transfer rate and the pressure drop for various geometries of the heat ex changer fins. Based on the numerical results, find suitable fins were identified. For convenience similar expressions to those of conventional shell -and –tube heat ex changers, that is , the function of dimensionless numbers such as the Reynolds number, are derived in these equations, the geometry of the heat exchange, fin efficiency , and contact thermal resistance are include as major factors on formulating the equation for the overall heat transfer rate. It is found that the heat transfer coefficient for the heat ex-changer with fin does not correspond to the combination to the coefficient of bare tubes surface and the fin. This is because the heat exchange area is substantially limited especially at the narrow space between the tube and the fin. A correction factory for the substantially heat transfer areas therefore introduced. These formulated equations are helpful for installing sheet fins in manufactured heat exchangers using the formulated equations. Effective conditions to enhance heat transfer rate by the fin are established, taking into account the increase in pressure drop.