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Exergy analysis of Shell and helical coil heat exchanger and design optimization

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Abstract

In this study, experimental investigations and exergy analysis on shell and helically coiled tube heat exchanger are carried out for free convection heat transfer. The measured data are totally optimised utilizing thermodynamics rules in which exergy study is performed to investigate the thermal performance of the helical system under different operating conditions. The experimental set-up of apparatus are designed and made for cold water and hot water as a working fluid of both the shell side and helical coil side, respectively. The effects of several parameters such as geometry and operational conditions on the exergy destruction and dimensionless exergy destruction are investigated. The counter flow direction is considered under the steady state flow condition, and the critical Reynolds number was more than 4000 in this study. The main objective of this work was to clarify the effect of the volume flow rates and inlet temperatures of hot water and cold water in the shell and helical coil on exergy efficiency and pressure drop. Results showed that the exergy destruction and dimensionless exergy destruction decrease with the increase of coil pitch and Dean number. In contrast, the exergy destruction and dimensionless exergy destruction are obviously increased with the hot water flow rates or cold water flow rates. These exergy characteristics are also augmented with the values of hot water inlet temperatures and cold water inlet temperatures. The pressure drop is considerably increased with the increase of Dean number and reduced with the increase of coil diameter. While, the exergy efficiency steadily increases with the decrease of the cold water flow rates and with the increase of Dean number.

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Abbreviations

T :

Temperature (control volume) (K)

T 0 :

Dead state temperature (K)

P 0 :

Dead state pressure (K)

ρ :

Density of water (kg/m3)

u :

Velocity of water (m/s)

μ :

Viscosity (kg/m.s)

z :

Elevation (m)

g :

Specific gravity (−)

h :

Enthalpy of water (kJ/kg)

s :

Entropy of water (kJ/kg.K)

\( {\dot{W}}_{CV} \) :

Control volume work (W)

Q :

Flow rate (LPM)

\( {\dot{m}}_h\&{\dot{\ m}}_c \) :

Mass flow rate of hot and cold water (kg/s)

ψ :

Exergy flow (J/kg)

\( {\dot{S}}_{gen. HCHE.} \) :

Entropy generation of helical coil heat exchanger (W/K)

Ψ dest. HCHE :

Exergy destruction of helical coil heat exchanger (W)

e :

Dimensionless of exergy destruction (−)

\( {\eta}_{ex_{HCHX}} \) :

Exergy efficiency of helical coil heat exchanger (−)

Cmin :

Smaller heat capacity rate (W/K)

Cp :

Specific heat at constant pressure (J/kg.K)

Re in :

Reynolds number inside helical coil heat exchanger (−)

D e :

Dean number (−)

W:

Total uncertainty in the measurement

X:

Independent variable

1 and 2:

Inlet and outlet sections in coil tube

3 and 4:

Inlet and outlet sections in shell

h and c:

Hot and cold water

R+ :

Function of the independent variables

X1, X2, …Xn :

Independent variables

w1, w2, …wn :

Independent variables

din :

Inlet diameter (m)

Dc :

Coil diameter (m)

ΔT:

Temperature difference (K)

L:

Length of helical coil (m)

N:

Number of turns of helical coil

P:

Distance between two consecutive coils [1.5* Dc](m)

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pumps Engineering Department, Al-Musaib Technical College, Al-Furat Al-Awsat Technical University (ATU), Kufa, Iraq

    Audai Hussein Al-Abbas, Akeel Abbas Mohammed & Atheer Saleh Hassoon

Authors
  1. Audai Hussein Al-Abbas
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  2. Akeel Abbas Mohammed
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  3. Atheer Saleh Hassoon
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Correspondence to Audai Hussein Al-Abbas.

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High Lights

• Experimental work and exergetic analysis of Shell and helical coil tube heat exchanger are investigated

• Geometrical effect and operational parameters on exergy characteristics and pressure drop are studied.

• Exergy efficiency for different amounts of Dean number and inlet temperatures is evaluated.

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Al-Abbas, A.H., Mohammed, A.A. & Hassoon, A.S. Exergy analysis of Shell and helical coil heat exchanger and design optimization. Heat Mass Transfer 57, 797–806 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-020-02993-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-020-02993-9

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