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Nanofluid exhibits higher density, higher viscosity, higher thermal conductivity and reduced specific heat capacity along with improved heat transfer characteristics. It is comparatively better than conventional fluids in terms of thermo-physical properties. This paper aims to investigate experimentally the overall performance of the shell and tube heat exchanger operated under two different configurations – without baffles (STHX_1) and with baffles (STHX_2) using 0.01 Vol.% and 0.02 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid.

Two different configurations, one without baffles (STHX_1) and other with single segmental baffles (STHX_2), are chosen with all other dimensional details of shell and tube remaining same. Water is used as base fluid. CuO nanoparticle is chosen, as its thermal conductivity is higher compared to other metal oxides. A comparative study on the thermal performance of these shell and tube heat exchangers are performed by considering different Vol.% concentrations of CuO-W nanofluid and the outcome are compared with the base fluid (i.e., water). The influence of varying the mass flow rate of the tube side fluid by keeping shell side fluid mass flow rate as constant and vice versa on the thermal performance of shell and tube heat exchanger are studied.

The modified shell and tube heat exchanger with baffles (STHX_2) give an improved performance. The heat transfer coefficient improved by about 11.28 and 7.54 per cent for 0.02 and 0.01 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid compared to water. Overall heat transfer coefficient for STHX_2 enhanced between 118.26% to 123.06% in comparison with base fluid for 0.02 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid whereas, it improved between 79.20% to 87.51% for 0.01 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid. Similarly, the actual heat transfer enhanced between 71.79% to 77.77% and between 48.71% to 55.55% for 0.02 and 0.01 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid, respectively. Moreover, mass flow rates of the working fluids significantly influence the performance of the shell and tube heat exchanger.

Two cases are considered here. first, by varying the shell side fluid mass flow rate and keeping the tube side fluid mass flow rate as constant. Later, tube side fluid mass flow rates are varied and shell side fluid mass flow rate is kept constant. It is found that in Case 2, for both 0.01 and 0.02 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid, highest performance is obtained for 150 kg/h of shell side and tube side fluid flows involving STHX_2. Finally, the modified shell and tube heat exchanger with baffle arrangement gives the best performance by using 0.02 Vol.% of CuO-W nanofluid.

This work presents a numerical study of the dynamic and thermal behavior of a turbulent flow in a shell and tube heat exchanger equipped with a new design of baffle type wing. The implementation of this type of baffle makes it possible to lengthen the path of the fluid in the shell, to increase the heat flux exchanged on the one hand and is to capture the weakness of the shell and tube heat exchanger with segmental baffles on the other hand.

This paper aims to analyze numerically the thermo-convective behavior of water using CFD technique by solving the conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy by the finite volume method based on the SIMPLE algorithm for coupling velocity-pressure. To describe the turbulence phenomenon, the Realizable k–ε model is employed. The analysis is done for different mass flow rates. The parameters studied are: the fluid outlet temperature, the average heat transfer coefficient, the pressure drop, the total heat transfer rate, the effect of the geometric shape of the baffle on the thermal behavior. The purpose of this study is to propose a new design of a shell and tube heat exchanger with a high heat transfer coefficient and a lower pressure drop compared to a shell and tube heat exchanger with transverse and segmental baffles.

The results showed that the use of the wing baffles enhanced the heat transfer coefficient significantly and reduced the friction coefficient. Compared with segmental baffles, the wing baffles are 11.67, 18.53 and 11.5 per cent lower in the pressure drop and 1.79, 1.9 and 2.39 per cent higher in the Nusselt number for the three mass flow rates 0.5, 1 and 2 kg/s, respectively.

The originality of this work lies in proposing a three-dimensional analysis for a novel heat exchanger.

This paper aims to investigate the fluid flow and heat transfer of a laboratory shell and tube heat exchanger that are analyzed using computational fluid dynamic approach by SOLIDWORKS flow simulation (ver. 2015) software.

In this study, several types of baffle including segmental baffle, butterfly baffle, helical baffle, combined helical-segmental baffle, combined helical-disk baffle and combined helical-butterfly baffle are examined. Two important parameters as the heat transfer and pressure drop are evaluated and analyzed. Based on obtained results, segmental baffle has the highest amount of heat transfer and pressure drop. To assess the integrative performance, performance coefficient defines as “Q/Δp” is used.

This investigation showed that among the presented baffle types, the heat exchangers equipped with disk baffle has the highest heat transfer. In addition, in the same mass flow rate, the performance coefficient of the shell and tube heat exchanger equipped with helical-butterfly baffle is the highest among the proposed models.

After combined helical-butterfly baffle the butterfly baffle, disk baffle, helical-segmental baffle and helical-disk baffle show their superiority of 35.12, 25, 22 and 12 per cent rather than the common segmental baffle, respectively. Furthermore, except for the combined helical-disk baffle, the other type of combined baffle have better performance compare to the basic configuration (butterfly and segmental baffle).

This paper aims to examine total annual cost from economic view mixed materials heat exchangers based on three optimization algorithms. This study compares the use of three optimization algorithms in the design of economic optimization shell and tube mixed material heat exchangers.

A shell and tube mixed materials heat exchanger optimization design approach is expanded based on the total annual cost measured by dividing the costs of the heat exchanger to area of surface and power consumption. In this study, optimization and minimization of the total annual cost is considered as the objective function. There are three types of exchangers: cheap, expensive and mixed. Mixed materials are used in corrosive flows in the heat exchanger network. The present study explores the use of three optimization techniques, namely, hybrid genetic-particle swarm optimization, shuffled frog leaping algorithm techniques and ant colony optimization.

There are three parameters as decision variables such as tube outer diameter, shell diameter and central baffle spacing considered for optimization. Results have been compared with the findings of previous studies to demonstrate the accuracy of algorithms.

The present study explores the use of three optimization techniques, namely, hybrid genetic-particle swarm optimization, shuffled frog leaping algorithm techniques and ant colony optimization. This study has demonstrated successful application of each technique for the optimal design of a mixed material shell and tube heat exchanger from the economic view point.

This paper aims to present a numerical investigation on laboratory-scale segmental baffles shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHX) having various tube bundles and baffle configuration.

To discover the higher performance the thermohydraulic behavior of shell-side fluid flow with circular, elliptical and twisted oval tube bundles with segmental and inclined segmental baffled is compared. Shell side turbulent flow and heat transfer are simulated by a finite volume discretization approach using SolidWorks Flow Simulation. To achieve greater configuration performance of this device, the following two approaches is considered: using the inclined baffle with 200 angles of inclination and applying the different tube bundle.

Different parameters as heat transfer rate, pressure drop (Δp), heat transfer coefficient (h) and heat transfer coefficient to pressure drop ratio (h/Δp) are presented and discussed. Besides, for considering the effect of pressure penalty and heat transfer improvement instantaneously, the efficiency evaluation coefficient (EEC) in the fluid flow and heat transfer based on the power required to provide the real heat transfer augmentation are used.

Obtained results displayed that, at the equal mass flow rate, the twisted oval tubes with segmental baffle decrease the pressure drop 53.6% and 35.64% rather than that the circular and elliptical tubes bundle, respectively. By comparing the (h/Δp) ratio, it can result that the STHX with twisted oval tubes bundle (both segmental and inclined baffle) has better performance than other kinds of the tube bundles. Present results showed that the values of the EEC for all provided models are higher than 1, except for elliptical tube bundles with segmental baffles. The STHX with twisted oval tube bundles and segmental baffle gives the highest EEC value equal to 1.16 in the range of investigated mass flow.

This study aims to evaluate the melting process of the phase-change RT-35 material in a shell and tube heat exchanger saturated with a porous medium. Titanium porous media with isotropic and inhomogeneous structures are studied. The considered tubes in the shell and tube exchanger are made of copper with specific thicknesses. The phase-change material has a non-Newtonian behavior and follows the endorsed Carreau–Yasuda Model.

The enthalpy–porosity method is used for modeling of the melting process. The governing equations were transferred to their dimensionless forms. Finally, the equations are solved by applying the Galerkin finite element method.

The findings for different values of the relative permeability (K*) and permeability deviation angle (λ) are represented in the forms of charts, streamlines and constant temperature contours. The considerable effects of the relative permeability (K*) and deviation angle (λ) on the flow line patterns of the melting phase-change material are some of the significant achievements of this works.

This study was conducted using data from relevant research articles provided by reputable academic sources. The data included in this manuscript have not been published previously and are not under consideration by any other journal.

In oil and gas industries, the presence of sand particles in produced oil and natural gas represents a major concern because of the associated erosive wear occurring in various flow passages. Erosion in the tube entrance region of a typical shell and tube heat exchanger is numerically predicted.

The erosion rates are obtained for different flow rates and particle sizes assuming low particle concentration. The erosion prediction is based on using a mathematical model for simulating the fluid velocity field and another model for simulating the motion of solid particles. The fluid velocity (continuous phase) model is based on the solution of the time‐averaged governing equations of 3D turbulent flow while the particle‐tracking model is based on the solution of the governing equation of each particle motion taking into consideration the viscous and gravity forces as well as the effect of particle rebound behavior.

The results show that the location and number of eroded tubes depend mainly on the particle size and velocity magnitude at the header inlet. The rate of erosion depends exponentially on the velocity. The particle size shows negligible effect on the erosion rate at high velocity values and the large‐size particles show less erosion rates compared to the small‐size particles at low values of inlet flow velocities.

In oil and gas industries, the presence of sand particles in produced oil and natural gas represents a major concern because of the associated erosive wear occurring in various flow passages. The results indicate that erosion in shell and tube heat exchanger can be minimized through the control of velocity inlet to the header.

The purpose of this study is to provide a method for designing the shell and tube heat exchangers and examine the total annual cost of heat exchanger networks from the economic view based on the careful design of equipment.

Accurate evaluation of heat exchanger networks performance depends on detailed models of heat exchangers design. The simulations variables include nine design variables such as flow direction determination of each of the two fluids, number of tubes, number of tube passes, length of tubes, the arrangement of tubes, size and percentage of baffle cut, tube diameter and tube pitch. The optimal designing of the heat exchangers is based on geometrical and hydraulic modeling and using a hybrid genetic particle swarm optimization algorithm (PSO-GA) technique. In this paper, optimization and minimization of the total annual cost of heat exchanger networks are considered as the objective function.

In this study, a fast and reliable method is used to simulate, optimize design parameters and evaluate heat transfer enhancement. PSO-GA algorithms have been used to minimize the total annual cost, which includes investment costs of heat exchangers and pumps, operating costs (pumping) and energy costs for utilities. Three case studies of four, six and nine streams are selected to demonstrate the accuracy of the method. Reductions of 0.55%, 23.5% and 14.78% are obtained in total annual cost for the selected streams, respectively.

In the present study, a reliable method is used to simulate and optimize design parameters and the economic optimization of the heat exchanger networks. Taking into account the importance of shell and tube heat exchangers in industrial applications and the complexity in their geometry, the PSO-GA methodology is adopted to obtain an optimal geometric configuration. The total annual cost is chosen as the objective function. Applying this technique to case studies demonstrates its ability to accurately design heat exchangers to optimize the objective function of the heat exchanger networks by giving the detail of design.

The prediction of critical velocity at instability threshold for shell and tube heat exchangers is important to avoid failure of tubes as a result of flow-induced vibrations due to water cross flow. The flow-induced vibration in finned tube heat exchangers is affected by various parameters such as fin height, fin pitch, fin material, tube array, pitch ratio, fin type, fluid velocity etc. In this paper, an experimental investigation of fluid elastic instability in shell and tube heat exchangers is carried out by subjecting normal square finned tube arrays of pitch ratio 1.79 to water cross flow.

The five tube arrays, namely plain array, two finned tube arrays with 3 fpi and 9 fpi fin density, and two finned tube arrays with 3 mm and 6 mm fin height are tested in the experimental test setup with water flow loop and vibration measurement system. The research objective is to evaluate the effect of fin density and fin height on the instability threshold. The critical velocity at instability threshold is determined to characterize the fluid elastic instability behavior of different tube arrays. The vortex shedding behavior of the tube arrays is also studied by determining Strouhal number corresponding to the small peaks before fluid elastic instability.

The fluid elastic instability behavior of the tube arrays was found to be the function of fin tube parameters. The experimental results indicate that an increase in fin density and fin height results in delaying the instability threshold for finned tube arrays. It is also observed that critical velocity at instability is increased for finned tube arrays compared to plain tube arrays of the same pitch ratio. The design modifications in the outer box have resulted in further reduction in the natural frequency. This enabled to reach clear instability for all the five-tube arrays.

The research data add the value to the present body of knowledge by knowing the effect of fin height and fin density on the fluid elastic instability threshold of normal square finned tube arrays subjected to water cross flow.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate efficient designs of a shell-and-tube latent thermal energy storage system through an approach based on the analysis of entropy generation. It proposes innovative branched fins to maximize the performance of the system.

A computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model is first used to detail the thermo-fluid dynamic transient behavior of the latent heat storage system. The model account for phase change, buoyancy driven fluid flow and heat transfer during the process of energy retrieval from the storage unit (solidification). The CFD model is then used to evaluate locally the entropy generation rate during the process. On the basis of the insight gathered through the analysis of the entropy generation, the design of the fins is gradually modified aiming at the maximization of the performance of the storage system.

The best fins design leads to a twofold increase of the solidification rate in the latent heat storage unit. The corresponding second-law efficiency shows an increase of 13 percent compared with traditional fins.

The analysis is based on a single tube configuration of the storage system which implies that non-homogeneous effects due to multiple tubes are not considered. Nevertheless, the proposed design procedure is general and could be applied to different configurations of latent heat thermal storage systems.

Entropy generation analysis provides a very useful design approach to develop configurations of latent heat storage systems that may overcome current performance limitations. Also, practitioners in the field may also benefit of the results for improving current installations of energy storage systems.

Entropy generation is adapted and used to find an optimal design for a time dependent process. That is, a geometrical configuration is found for maximizing the performance over a span of time. This is a key aspect of the work because there is a strong trend toward energy systems operating under transient conditions.