Three dimensional numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in shell-and-tube heat exchanger

A three dimensional thermal-hydraulic model was developed for the analysis of fluid flow and heat transfer in shell-and -tube heat exchanger. The numerical model uses the distributed resistance model, distributed heat source model volume porosity and surface permeability to account for the shrinking of tubes, flow baffles etc in shell side. The volume average conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy of shell side fluid were derived to primitive variable forms by using a semi-implicit consistent control-volume formulation, in which a segregated pressure correction linked algorithm is employed. The analytical model is validated by comparison of computed pressure drop and temperature distribution with the experimental data.