Performance comparison of some tube inserts

Heat transfer enhancement technology provides many advantages in heat exchanger applications. It becomes even more significant in the retrofit design of shell-and-tube heat exchangers, where additional heat transfer area is often required. Tube inserts are frequently used in such applications to avoid additional exchangers, which can lead to significant cost saving. This paper discusses the selection of different tube inserts, and makes comprehensive comparison on the thermal and hydraulic performance for the two most common tube inserts: twisted tape insert and wire coil insert. The comparison is conducted in both laminar and turbulent regions.