Exergetic optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers using a genetic based algorithm

In the computer-based optimization, many thousands of alternative shell and tube heat exchangers may be examined by varying the high number of exchanger parameters such as tube length, tube outer diameter, pitch size, layout angle, baffle space ratio, number of tube side passes.In the present study, a genetic based algorithm was developed, programmed, and applied to estimate the optimum values of discrete and continuous variables of the MINLP (mixed integer nonlinear programming) test problems. The results of the test problems show that the genetic based algorithm programmed can estimate the acceptable values of continuous variables and optimum values of integer variables. Finally the genetic based algorithm was extended to make parametric studies and to find optimum configuration of heat exchangers by minimizing the sum of the annual capital cost and exergetic cost of the shell and tube heat exchangers. The results of the example problems show that the proposed algorithm is applicable to find optimum and near optimum alternatives of the shell and tube heat exchanger configurations.     

Design optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers using global sensitivity analysis and harmony search algorithm

This study explores the use of global sensitivity analysis (GSA) and harmony search algorithm (HSA) for design optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers (STHXs) from the economic viewpoint. To reduce the size of the optimization problem, non-influential geometrical parameters which have the least effect on total cost of STHXs are identified using GSA. The HSA which is a meta-heuristic based algorithm is then applied to optimize the influential geometrical parameters. To demonstrate the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed algorithm, an illustrative example is studied. Comparing the HSA results with those obtained using genetic algorithm (GA) reveals that the HSA can converge to optimum solution with higher accuracy.     

Design and economic optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers using Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm

In this study, a new shell and tube heat exchanger optimization design approach is developed. Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) has been applied to minimize the total cost of the equipment including capital investment and the sum of discounted annual energy expenditures related to pumping of shell and tube heat exchanger by varying various design variables such as tube length, tube outer diameter, pitch size, baffle spacing, etc. Finally, the results are compared to those obtained by literature approaches. The obtained results indicate that Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm can be successfully applied for optimal design of shell and tube heat exchangers.     

Experimental investigation of shell and coiled tube heat exchangers using wilson plots

In this work, an experimental investigation was performed to study the shell and helically coiled tube heat exchangers. Three heat exchangers with different coil pitches and curvature ratios were tested for both parallel-flow and counter-flow configurations. All the required parameters like inlet and outlet temperatures of tube-side and shell-side fluids, flow rate of fluids, etc. were measured using appropriate instruments. Overall heat transfer coefficients of the heat exchangers were calculated using Wilson plots. Heat transfer coefficients of shell and tube sides were evaluated invoking the calculated overall heat transfer coefficients. The inner Nusselt numbers were compared to the values existed in open literature. Though the boundary conditions were different, a reasonable agreement was observed.     

管壳式换热器壳侧强化传热与管束支撑方式的研究进展

从管壳式换热器壳侧管束支撑方式和强化传热的角度,综述了从弓形折流板换热器、折流杆式换热器到螺旋折流板式换热器的研究进展,特别介绍了一种适合正三角形布管的三分螺旋折流板换热器的新型结构,并指出非连续折流板螺旋换热器中相邻折流板形成的三角区的泄漏是方向指向上游的有益流动,而目前常用的螺旋折流板轴向搭接方案则开启了一条指向下游的旁通捷径,将影响绕行主流正常流动和传热。     

Heat transfer characteristics of a temperature-dependent-property fluid in shell and coiled tube heat exchangers

An experimental investigation was performed to study the heat transfer characteristics of temperature-dependent-property engine-oil inside shell and coiled tube heat exchangers. For this purpose, a well-instrumented set-up was designed and constructed. Three heat exchangers with different coil pitches were selected as the test section for counter-flow configuration. Engine-oil was circulated inside the inner coiled tube, while coolant water flowed in the shell. All the required parameters like inlet and outlet temperatures of tube-side and shell-side fluids, flow rate of fluids, etc were measured using appropriate instruments. An empirical correlation existed in the previous literature for evaluating the shell-side Nusselt number was invoked to calculate the heat transfer coefficients of the temperature-dependent-property fluid flowing in the tube-side of the heat exchangers. Using the data of the present study, an empirical correlation was developed to predict the heat transfer coefficients of the temperature-dependent-property fluid flowing inside the shell and coiled tube heat exchangers.     

管壳式换热器蓄热单元数值模拟与优化

相变材料导热系数低,导致相变蓄热装置无法快速地进行热量储存和释放,文中建立了翅片管和光管式相变蓄热单元的三维计算模型,采用数值模拟方法,从蓄热速率、蓄热量以及温度场等方面比较分析了翅片管和光管结构对储热性能的影响。结果表明:在光管外壁添加翅片可以缩短相变材料完全熔化以及整个蓄/放热过程所需时间;与采用光管结构相比,采用翅片换热管时,完全熔化时间缩短32%,完全放热时间缩短14.5%。可见,在一定条件下添加翅片有助于提高蓄热体的蓄放热性能,所得结论对实际工程中相变蓄热系统的设计和优化具有一定的参考价值。     

矩形翅片椭圆管换热器熵产分析及结构优化

针对矩形翅片椭圆管换热器的三种排列方式,用计算流体力学(CFD)方法,采用标准k-ε湍流模型和增强型壁面函数法得到换热器流动换热数据,在此基础上采用热力学第二定律的熵产分析法,对不同管束排列方式及各结构参数下的换热器熵产进行分析。用田口法,得到不同排列方式各结构因素对熵产的贡献率,并给出错排和错列结构的具有最小熵产的优化结构参数组合。发现错列结构不可逆损失最小,而顺排结构损失最大。横向管间距是错排结构熵产的重要影响因素,而对于错列结构,横向管间距在压力熵产中起主导作用。     

Economic optimization of shell and tube heat exchanger based on constructal theory

In this paper, the new approach of constructal theory has been employed to design shell and tube heat exchangers. Constructal theory is a new method for optimal design in engineering applications. The purpose of this paper is optimization of shell and tube heat exchangers by reduction of total cost of the exchanger using the constructal theory. The total cost of the heat exchanger is the sum of operational costs and capital costs. The overall heat transfer coefficient of the shell and tube heat exchanger is increased by the use of constructal theory. Therefore, the capital cost required for making the heat transfer surface is reduced. Moreover, the operational energy costs involving pumping in order to overcome frictional pressure loss are minimized in this method. Genetic algorithm is used to optimize the objective function which is a mathematical model for the cost of the shell and tube heat exchanger and is based on constructal theory. The results of this research represent more than 50% reduction in costs of the heat exchanger.     

Simple method for estimation of effectiveness in one tube pass and one shell pass counter-flow heat exchangers

In one tube pass and one shell pass counter-flow heat exchangers, when both streams change temperature by different amounts, the effectiveness is defined as the temperature change for the stream with lower capacity divided by the maximum possible change and the effectiveness depends on the number of transfer units and the thermal capacity ratio. In this paper, an attempt has been made to formulate a simple-to-use method which is easier than existing approaches, less complicated and with fewer computations for accurate and rapid estimation of effectiveness in one tube pass and one shell pass counter-flow heat exchangers as a function of number of transfer units and the thermal capacity ratio. The proposed method permits estimating the exit temperature for a one tube pass and one shell pass counter-flow heat exchanger without a trial-and-error calculation. The average absolute deviations between the reported data and the proposed correlations are found to be less than 2% demonstrating the excellent performance of proposed correlation. The tool developed in this study can be of immense practical value for engineers and scientists to have a quick check on the effectiveness in one tube pass and one shell pass counter-flow heat exchangers at various conditions without opting for any experimental measurements. In particular, practice engineers would find the predictive tool to be user-friendly with transparent calculations involving no complex expressions.     

Fluid flow and heat transfer investigations in shell and dimple heat exchangers

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics are investigated here using experimental and analytical techniques for a dimple plate heat exchanger. The analysis uses the log mean temperature difference method (LMTD) in all its calculations. Whilest the shell side flow highly resembles the flow over a rough or wavy plate, the tube side passage in these represents the flow over short hexagonal tube banks with the flowing across the sectional areas between the hexagons having the shape of a benzene ring. Local and global experimental measurements are carried out around the heat exchanger. Furthermore, analytical models for both sides of the heat exchanger were obtained from the literature. Reasonable cross match between experimental and analytical results could be obtained. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Tube bundle replacement for segmental and helical shell and tube heat exchangers: Experimental test and economic analysis

In this investigation, the second test analysis with more comprehensive evaluation with a focus on fouling mitigation, increased running-time and economic analysis are shown and then, the thermal design procedure for tube bundle replacement of critical heat exchanger of Butene-1 unit in Petrochemical Company as a case study are described. Finally, experimental data for the average heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of shell-side in segmental and helix bundles are measured and calculated for the mass flow rate of 14.24 kg/s and then these data are compared with the data from code and EXPRESS. Moreover, additional comparison between code and EXPRESS results are provided to ensure the accuracy of calculation program in various mass flow rates. Based on the same shell in the case studies, the results showed that in addition to improved heat transfer performance of the helix bundle over segmental bundle, helix bundle achieved two to three times longer operational run times. From economic point of view, the results for replacement of segmental bundle with a helix bundle showed that initial and installation costs of helix bundle to segmental bundle could be increased, but maintenance and operating costs can be decreased in the helix bundle, 60% and 20%, respectively. Comparison between code and EXPRESS results with experimental data for the mass flow rate of 14.24 kg/s showed that the deviation in heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop are quite reliable for segmental and helix bundles.     

Generalized solution and effectiveness for concentric tube heat exchangers

In this paper, general solutions are obtained for the steady-state temperature of heat exchanging fluids along the length of a concentric tube heat exchanger. Heat exchanger effectiveness is also obtained in terms of the dimensionless exit temperature. Governing equations in non-dimensional differential form for the inner and outer fluid streams representing non-adiabatic conditions at the outside surface of the outer tube are solved analytically. Both counter-flow and parallel-flow cases are considered. Expressions for heat transfer to or from the outside are obtained. Exact agreement with the NTU method for adiabatic conditions at the outside surface and also the heat balance analysis provide validation of the generalized solution.     

Performance analysis of finned tube and unbaffled shell-and-tube heat exchangers

This work considers an optimum design problem for the different constraints involved in the designing of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger consisting of longitudinally finned tubes. A Matlab simulation has been employed using the Kern's method of design of extended surface heat exchanger to determine the behavior on varying the values of the constraints and studying the overall behavior of the heat exchanger with their variation for both cases of triangular and square pitch arrangements, along with the values of pressure drop. It was found out that an optimum fin height existed for particular values of shell and tube diameters when the heat transfer rate was the maximum. Moreover it was found out that the optimum fin height increased linearly with the increase in tube outer diameter. Further studies were also performed with the variation of other important heat exchanger design features and their effects were studied on the behavior of overall performance of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The results were thereby summarized which would proclaim to the best performance of the heat exchanger and therefore capable of giving a good idea to the designer about the dimensional characteristics to be used for designing of a particular shell and tube heat exchanger.     

Design and multi-objective optimization of heat exchangers for refrigerators

In this study, a detailed thermodynamic model for a refrigerator based on an irreversible Carnot cycle is developed with the focus on forced-air heat-exchangers. A multi-objective optimization procedure is implemented to find optimal design values for design variables. Minimizations of energy consumption and material cost were the two objectives considered. Since these objectives are conflicting, no single design will satisfy both simultaneously. The result of this research is a set of multiple optimum solutions, which are called ‘Pareto optimal solutions’. Air and refrigerant side correlations were combined with an elemental approach to model the heat exchangers. This paper presents a detailed design model development. A limited validation is presented with experimental test-data obtained from a typical household refrigerator. Detailed simulation models are typically complex and computationally demanding. An optimization algorithm requires several evaluations of such models. Response surface based metamodels for objective functions were used to save computational effort. A genetic-algorithm based optimization tool is used for multi-criteria optimization.     

Velocity distribution and vibration excitation in tube bundle heat exchangers

Design criteria for tube bundle heat exchangers, to avoid fluidelastic instability, are based on stability criteria for ideal bundles and uniform flow conditions along the tube length. In real heat exchangers, a non-uniform flow distribution is caused by inlet nozzles, impingement plates, baffles and bypass gaps. The calculation of the equivalent velocities, according to the extended stability equation of Connors, requires the knowledge of the mode shape and the assumption of a realistic velocity distribution in each flow section of the heat exchanger. It is the object of this investigation to derive simple correlations and recommendations, (1) for equivalent velocity distributions, based on partial constant velocities, and (2) for the calculation of the critical volume flow in practical design applications. With computational fluid dynamic (CFD) programs it is possible to calculate the velocity distribution in real tube bundles, and to determine the most endangered tube and thereby the critical volume flow. The paper moreover presents results and design equations for the inlet section of heat exchangers with variations of a broad range of geometrical parameters, e.g., tube pitch, shell diameter, nozzle diameter, span width, distance between nozzle exit and tube bundle.     

Performance investigation of plain and finned tube evaporatively cooled heat exchangers

The performance of two evaporatively cooled heat exchangers is investigated under similar operating conditions of air flow rates and inlet hot water temperatures. The heat exchangers are plain and plate-finned circular tube types which occupy the same volume. Spray water, which is circulated in a closed circuit, is injected onto the exposed surfaces of the tubes and fins. The contact between air and spray water results in evaporative heat transfer. The tubes are copper, 10 mm o.d. The finned configuration is constructed by introducing 0.5 mm thick copper plates between the tubes, with a total area ratio of four. A substantial increase in heat transfer takes place for the plate-finned tubes. The increase is 92–140% for air velocities from 1.66 to 3.57 m s⁻¹. A model is used to calculate the thermal performance of the plain and finned tubes assuming a constant spray water temperature in the heat exchanger. The wet-finned surfaces show low fin efficiency compared with dry surfaces. An energy index defined as the ratio of volumetric thermal conductance to air pressure drop per unit length is found to be close for the two heat exchangers. This reveals higher thermal utilisation of the occupied volume by the finned tubes with the same energy index.     

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of peripheral-finned tube heat exchangers

The peripheral-finned tube is a new geometry aimed at avoiding moisture-condensate blockage hindering of the air-side heat transfer, by allowing for robust air flow pathways. It consists of a porous structure formed by periodic, radial-hexagonal fin arrangements of different radial extents mounted with a 30° offset from its neighboring level. Here, the air-side pressure drop and the heat transfer characteristics of five different heat exchanger prototypes with different geometric characteristics, such as the radial fin length, fin distribution, and heat exchanger length, were evaluated experimentally in an open-loop wind-tunnel calorimeter. The results demonstrate the effective performance, i.e., the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics, of this new heat exchanger. A one-dimensional theoretical model based on the porous media treatment was also developed to predict the thermal-hydraulic behavior of the heat exchanger. The model incorporates the actual fin geometry into the calculation of the air-side porosity. The air-side permeability is calculated according to the Kozeny–Carman model and the particle-diameter based analysis. The model predicts the experimental data within a few percent RMS, depending on the correlations used for the friction coefficient and interstitial Nusselt number.     

Performance of finned tube heat exchangers operating under frosting conditions

In this paper, the performance of flat plate finned tube heat exchangers operating under frosting conditions was investigated experimentally. Heat exchangers of single and multiple tube row(s) were tested to show the effects of various parameters on heat transfer performance. The parameters include temperature and relative humidity of air, flow rate of air, refrigerant temperature, fin pitch, and row number. The time variations of heat transfer rate, overall heat transfer coefficient, and pressure drop of heat exchangers presented.