3D numerical simulation on shell-and-tube heat exchangers with middle-overlapped helical baffles and continuous baffles – Part II: Simulation results of periodic model and comparison between continuous and noncontinuous helical baffles

In this paper, based on the simplified periodic model the performance predictions for heat exchanger with middle-overlapped helical baffles are carried out by 3D simulation for three different helix angles (30°, 40° and 50°), and the commercial codes of GAMBIT 2.3 and FLEUNT 6.3 are adopted in the simulation. It is found that the model average heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop of the 40° angle case is the largest, which is in qualitative agreement with the existing literature. The predicted average intersection angle of this case is the smallest, being consistent with the field synergy principle. The performance of periodic model with continuous helical baffle is also compared with that of the noncontinuous middle-overlapped helical baffles. It is found that the heat transfer coefficient per unit pressure drop of the noncontinuous middle-overlapped helical baffles is appreciably larger than that of the continuous helical baffle, indicating that the heat exchanger with noncontinuous middle-overlapped helical baffles has its advantage over the one with continuous helical baffle.