Numerical investigation of reciprocating flow in a shell and tube heat exchanger used as a cooler in gamma Stirling engine

Oscillating flow is one of the most important characteristics of flow in stirling engine heat exchangers. In this study reciprocating flow in stirling engine cooler is investigated numerically. Numerical solution is based on finite volume and pressure based algorithm by using the commercial CFD code fluent. A Shell and tube type heat exchanger used as cooler. The working fluid, gas flows inside the tubes while the cooling fluid, water flows around the tubes. The heat transfer coefficient, temperature difference between tube walls and working fluid, Nusselt number and friction coefficient are calculated for Helium, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen at different operating pressure and oscillating frequency. The Nusselt number, heat transfer coefficient and temperature difference between tube walls and working fluid increase with increase of operating pressure or oscillating frequency while Friction coefficient decreases. Helium has the highest heat transfer coefficient and friction coefficient and the lowest temperature difference between tube walls and working fluid. At the highest operating pressure and oscillating frequency, Carbon dioxide has the highest Nusselt number and the lowest Friction coefficient. Finally empirical equations for Nusselt number and friction coefficient are proposed for Helium, Carbon dioxide and Nitrogen, the error of the equations are within 0.23-8.07% when the range of kinetic Reynolds number is 2.96-212.50.