Investigation of the Performance of a Rod Baffle Shell-Tube Heat Exchanger using Computational Fluid Dynamics and HTRI Software

A Rod Baffle shell-tube heat exchanger was simulated using HTRI software and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). The results from both models were compared with available experimental data. In addition, the effects of distance of baffles and cold fluid’s velocity on the heat exchanger’s performance were analyzed. The obtained results showed that decreasing the distance between baffles can improve the heat transfer. However, diminution of this distance more than a threshold can lead to a significant reduction in the heat transfer. By comparing the two employed methods for simulation of shell-tube heat exchangers with bar baffles, one can say that the use of HTRI software is easier and faster than the CFD method and achieves acceptable responses, on the other hand, the CFD results are more accurate. Furthermore, the details of the temperature and velocity profiles of the fluid inside the heat exchanger can be calculated and analyzed. The results of this research can be an effective step in developing the application of this type of heat exchanger and redesigning of it.