An analytical method for spiral-wound heat exchanger: design and cost estimation considering temperature-dependent fluid properties

Abstract

Purpose

Spiral-wound heat exchangers (SWHEs) are widely used in different industries. In special applications, such as cryogenic (HEs), fluid properties may significantly depend on fluid temperature. This paper aims to present an analytical method for design and rating of SWHEs considering variable fluid properties with consistent shell geometry and single-phase fluid.

Design/methodology/approach

To consider variations of fluid properties, the HE is divided into identical segments, and the fluid properties are assumed to be constant in each segment. Validation of the analytical method is accomplished by using three-dimensional numerical simulation with shear stress transport k-ω model, and the numerical model is verified by using the experimental data. Moreover, the HE cost is selected as the main criterion in obtaining the proper design, and the most affordable geometry is selected as the proper design.

Findings

The accuracy of different heat transfer and pressure drop correlations is investigated by comparing the analytical and numerical results. The average errors in the calculation of effectiveness, shell-side pressure drop and tube-side pressure drop using the analytical method are 2.1%, 13.9% and 13.3%, respectively. Moreover, the effect of five main geometrical parameters on the SWHE cost is investigated. The results indicate that the effect of longitudinal pitch ratio on the SWHE cost can be neglected, whereas other geometrical parameters have a significant impact on the total cost of the SWHE.

Originality/value

This work contains a versatile and low-cost analytical method to design and rating the SWHEs considering the variable fluid property with consistent shell geometry. The previous studies have introduced complex methods and have not considered the consistency of shell geometry.

Citation

Hosseinian, S.M., Mostafazade Abolmaali, A. and Afshin, H. (2021), "An analytical method for spiral-wound heat exchanger: design and cost estimation considering temperature-dependent fluid properties", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 471-496. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-01-2020-0025