CFD Analysis of the Effect of Mass Flow Rate in a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Design

Oku Ekpenyong NyongThermo-fluid, Combustion, and Energy System Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cross River State, Calabar, NigeriaCelestine EbietoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, NigeriaFrancis Jeremiah OkaraThermo-fluid, Combustion, and Energy System Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cross River State, Calabar, NigeriaEward Asu ObiDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, University of Calabar, Calabar, NigeriaBassey Ekpo EneThermo-fluid, Combustion, and Energy System Research Group, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Cross River State, Calabar, Nigeria

Vol 8 No 8 (2024): Volume 8, Issue 8, August 2024 | Pages: 215-220

International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology

OPEN ACCESS | Research Article | Published Date: 01-09-2024

doi Logo doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2024.808024

Abstract

Heat exchangers are often found in the chemical process industry, but of all types of heat exchangers, the Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger (STHE) are the most used. The design of shell and tube heat exchangers are continually evolving because of it reduce production costs. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation was employed using SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation version 2022 to model the effect of operating parameter such as the mass flow rate on the pressure drop, heat transfer coefficient and the turbulence intensity. The turbulence model adopted for the simulation was the k–ɛ turbulence model incorporating the boundary conditions. Three conditions were studied increasing both shell and tube side mass flow rate, maintaining either the shell or tube constant and then varying the other. The results obtained showed that an increase in mass flow rate have tremendous effect on the pressure drop, heat transfer and turbulence intensity.

Keywords

Pressure drop; Heat transfer Coefficient; Baffle; Turbulence intensity; Mass flow rate;


Citation of this Article

Oku Ekpenyong Nyong, Celestine Ebieto, Francis Jeremiah Okara, Eward Asu Obi, & Bassey Ekpo Ene. (2024). CFD Analysis of the Effect of Mass Flow Rate in a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Design. International Research Journal of Innovations in Engineering and Technology - IRJIET, 8(8), 215-220. Article DOI https://doi.org/10.47001/IRJIET/2024.808023

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