Numerical Simulation of the Effect of Using a Finned Tube on the Thermal Efficiency of Heat Exchangers

Document Type : Propulsion and Heat Transfer

Authors

1 Ph.D. Student, Faculty of Engineering, University of Imam Ali, Tehran, Iran

2 Corresponding author: Assistant Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Imam Ali University, Tehran, Iran

3 MSc, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Qom, Iran

4 Master's degree, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Qom University of Technology, Qom, Iran

Abstract

In this paper, a shell and tube heat exchanger used to transfer heat between two different fluids is simulated in three dimensions.This converter consists of a shell with 90 U-shaped tubes inside. For further heat transfer, the tubes were simulated and compared once without fins and again with fins, which are produced longitudinally and integrally with the tube body.The current flowing in the shell is MIL-PRF23699 oil and the flowing fluid in the tubes is JP-4fuel.These two fluids flow in separate and opposite directions and exchange heat with each other through contact with the surface of the tubes. Using Aspen software, the design is done in such a way that the heat exchanger has a shorter length and weight to have a better and higher effect on the efficiency of the helicopter.To investigate the effect of tube geometry and oil mass flow on the rate of heat transfer between fuel and oil,simulation has been performed in ANSYSFluent program.In this simulation, a part of the whole heat exchanger is selected as the geometry and the effect of changing the geometry of the tubes, mass flow of fuel and oil on the heat transfer coefficient,Colburn coefficient, coefficient of friction and their ratio, and outlet temperature changes are investigated.The results of this simulation show that the heat transfer rate between fuel and oil for a heat exchanger with finned tubes is about 11%higher than without a fin.Also, reducing the mass flow of oil entering the shell increases the efficiency of the heat exchanger.

Keywords

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References

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Aerospace Mechanics
Volume 18, Issue 1 - Serial Number 67
Serial No. 67, Spring Quarterly
July 2022
Pages 53-76

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 March 2021
  • Revise Date: 30 December 2021
  • Accept Date: 10 January 2022
  • Publish Date: 21 April 2022

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