Numerical study of shell and tube heat exchanger with different cross‑section tubes and combined tubes

Shell and tube heat exchangers are used in various industrial processes, and are one of the most commonly used heat exchangers. A shell and tube heat exchanger with a 25% baffle cut was used in this study. Tubes of different cross-sections (circular, elliptical with an attack angle of 90° and elliptical with an attack angle of 0°) were studied. A combined model of a shell and tube heat exchanger with elliptical tubes with an attack angle of 90° and circular tubes was introduced. A heat exchanger with ellipsoidal tubes near the shell with an attack angle of 90° and circular tubes in the center of the shell showed the highest heat transfer compared with the shell and tube heat exchangers with circular tubes and elliptical tubes with an attack angle of 90° and 0°. The pressure drop in the tube and shell side was also investigated for all five cases in this study. The effect of the location of tubes on heat transfer was investigated. It was shown that tubes located near the shell have a greater impact on heat transfer compared with tubes located in the center of the shell.