Comparison of the fluid flow and heat transfer in shell-and-tube heat exchangers with different baffles and tubes: simulation and experimental studies

Large-and-small-hole (LASH) baffle is a new shell-side fluid flow-guide structure, and corrugated tube is the widely used as the heat transfer enhancement tube. In this paper, numerical simulations and experimental studies were carried out for the fluid flow and heat transfer in six shell-and-tube heat exchangers designed with LASH baffles, segmental LASH baffles, traditional single-segmental baffles, and corrugated and plain tubes. It is found that under the same fluid flow conditions, the tube vibration in the heat exchangers with LASH baffles are significantly reduced and the shell-side pressure drops are decreased compared with those having the conventional single-segmental baffles. In terms of the overall heat transfer coefficient, the heat exchangers with the corrugated tubes are much better than those with the plain tubes. Heat exchangers with the LASH baffles and corrugated tubes have the best comprehensive properties and thus will inspire broader application for engineering considerations. (C) 2016 Curtin University of Technology and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.