Numerical Studies of a Novel Combined Multiple Shell-Pass Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger With Helical Baffles

In order to simplify the manufacture and improve heat transfer performance of shell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHXs), we have invented a combined multiple shell-pass STHX with continuous helical baffles. The novel combined multiple shell-pass STHX with continuous helical baffles (NOVEL STHX) is compared with the conventional STHX with segmental baffles by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The numerical results show that, under the same mass flow rate M and the same overall heat transfer rate Q_m in the shell side, the overall pressure drop DP of the NOVEL STHX is lower than that of the STHX with segmental baffles by about 13%. The heat transfer rate Q_m of the NOVEL STHX is higher than that of the STHX with segmental baffles by about 6% under the same overall pressure drop DP. The NOVEL STHX might be used to replace the conventional STHX with segmental baffles in industrial applications to save energy, reduce cost and prolong service life.