Improvement of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers with Pore Structures of Helical and Segmental Baffles

In this research, the thermal-hydraulic behaviour of fluid in the shell and tube heat exchanger with new segmental perforated baffles and hollow spiral baffles with basic structures (simple segmental and simple helical) were investigated. By using evaluation parameters such as heat transfer, pressure drop, ratio of heat transfer to pressure drop, and efficiency evaluation coefficient (EEC), the effect of the proposed baffles was compared with the basic structure (segmental baffle, single pass helical baffle). Based on the obtained results, the perforated continuous helical baffle reduced the pressure drop by 22.46% compared to the simple helical baffle and the perforated segmental baffle reduced the pressure drop by 19.76% compared to the simple segmental baffle. In a more comprehensive evaluation, the efficiency evaluation coefficient of pore helical and segmental baffle structures showed an increase of 18.3 and 11.17 per cent, respectively compared to the basic configuration. The concept of changing the flow pattern from helix to helix-longitudinal and from zigzag to zigzag-longitudinal made the flow distribution on the shell side more uniform. These conditions reduced areas prone to sedimentation (dead areas) and maintenance costs, and improved system performance. In addition, this new structure can replace conventional segmental baffles to save energy in the long term.