Experimental shellside flow visualization in a shell and tube heat exchanger

Abstract

Shell and tube heat exchangers are an extremely effective and mechanically feasible method of transferring thermal energy between two fluids. There is great demand for effective design methods capable of producing highly efficient models. To further improve efficiency, there must be an increased understanding of the physics of shellside flow at a local level. To accomplish this end, an experimental investigation was conducted to obtain flow visualization and internal local pressure drop information in the shellside flow. A scale-model shell and tube heat exchanger with an outer diameter of 30.5 cm and a length of 61 cm was designed and constructed out of acrylic. Water was utilized as the working fluid and flowrates ranging from 0.32 to 2.21 L/s were studied. Flow visualization photographs confirmed the existence of leakage streams and recirculation zones. Anomalous vortices were also detected under certain circumstances. Global experimental pressure drops were in good agreement with values predicted from other methods. Local internal pressure dro s were also recorded for the first time and were in good agreement with what would be expected from conventional theory.