SIMULATION STUDY OF FINNED DOUBLE PIPE HEAT EXCHANGER

Abstract

Double pipe heat exchangers are extensively used in process industries. Increasing the surface area of heat exchanger results in enhanced heat transfer. In the current study double pipe heat exchanger was simulated using ANSYS Fluent simulator program. The fins were added to the outer surface of the inner pipe and the geometries studied were, rectangular, triangular and leaf shaped. Water outlet temperature of the heat exchanger was studied with mass flow rates of 0.20 kg/s, 0.24 kg/s and 0.28 kg/s. It was determined that with increase in mass flow rate the outlet temperature of cold water decreased. Higher outlet temperature of cold water was obtained with leaf fins as compared to rectangular, triangular and without-fin cases at mass flow rates of 0.20 kg/s and 0.24 kg/s. The percentage differences in temperature gradient seem to vary with change in mass flow rate. It is shown from the study that the length of heat exchanger with fins could be reduced to half to achieve about 90% of the temperature gradient.