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Performance Analysis and Structural Optimization of Torsional Flow Heat Exchangers with Sinusoidal Corrugated Baffle

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Abstract

The thermal performance of the heat exchanger is strongly influenced by the supporting structure. Corrugated baffle enhances flow field disturbance and heat transfer through its complex and changeable flow channel. In order to enhance the thermal performance of the torsional flow heat exchanger (TFHX), the sinusoidal corrugated baffle (SCB) is used to replace the flat baffle (FB) and the full-section cycle model of the torsional flow heat exchanger with sinusoidal corrugated baffle (TFHX-SCB) is established. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was used to discuss the flow resistance characteristics of the shell-side of heat exchangers. The results show that the SCB can improve the turbulence intensity and the uniformity of the flow field between the adjacent baffles. The combination of structural configurations on the shell-side of TFHX-SCB is analyzed by the central composite design (CCD)-response surface method (RSM). When the amplitude of the SCB is 1.37 mm, the cycles of the SCB are 4.42; the initial phase of the SCB is 112.73°, and the combination of heat transfer coefficient and comprehensive performance is optimal. Compared with the original structure, the heat transfer coefficient is increased by 11.58%, and the comprehensive performance is increased by 5.48%. The laser doppler velocimetry (LDV) experimental device irradiated the specified measurement point, and the dependability and accuracy of numerical simulation methods were verified. The research conclusion provides a basic theory for the structural development of the TFHX.

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Abbreviations

A :

amplitude of the SCB/mm

A 0 :

heat exchange surface area/m2

A min :

minimum flow cross-sectional area/m2

B :

period length of the baffle/mm

D :

shell inner diameter/mm

D s :

diameter of pipe laying circle/mm

d 0 :

outer diameter of tube/mm

d e :

equivalent diameter/mm

f :

friction factor

h :

heat transfer coefficient/W·m−2·K−1

l :

length of tube/mm

M :

mass flow rate/kg·s−1

Nu :

Nusselt number

P t :

tube pitch/mm

p :

pressure/Pa

Δp :

pressure drop/Pa

PEC:

performance evaluation criterion

Q :

heat transfer rate/W

T :

fluid temperature/K

ΔT m :

log-mean temperature difference/K

u :

average flow rate of the shell-side/m·s−1

u s :

characteristic velocity/m·s−1

W :

baffle width/mm

β :

angle of baffle/(°)

δ :

baffle thickness/mm

θ :

initial phase/(°)

λ :

fluid thermal conductivity/W·m−1 K−1

ν :

kinematic viscosity

ρ :

fluid density/kg·m−3

in:

inlet

max:

maximum

min:

minimum

out:

outlet

CCD:

central composite design

CFD:

computational fluid dynamic

FB:

flat baffle

LDV:

laser doppler velocimetry

RSM:

response surface method

SCB:

sinusoidal corrugated baffle

STHXs:

shell-and-tube heat exchangers

TFHX:

torsional flow heat exchanger

TFHX-SCB:

torsional flow heat exchanger with sinusoidal corrugated baffle

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Acknowledgements

The work is supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 21776263).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China

    Xin Gu, Qiming Shi, Wei Gao, Menghong Li & Dan Wang

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  1. Xin Gu
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  2. Qiming Shi
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Correspondence to Dan Wang.

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Gu, X., Shi, Q., Gao, W. et al. Performance Analysis and Structural Optimization of Torsional Flow Heat Exchangers with Sinusoidal Corrugated Baffle. J. Therm. Sci. 32, 680–691 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-023-1773-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-023-1773-3

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