Fluid circulation simulation in heat exchangers: Shell and tube (CFD - ANSYS®)

Abstract

In this final project degree several simulations are performed on shell and tube heat exchanger using ANSYS® v16.2 software - student version. This software contains the simulation tool Fluent which is specific to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) applications, which allows the resolution of the mathematical model at microscopic level. This software is used to generate the geometry of the heat exchanger and mesh. Boundary conditions and turbulence model are selected according to the recommended or generally used for this particular issue. ANSYS® results are compared to the classical equations available in chemical engineering handbooks. A rather good agreement is obtained and the main differences are consequence of the fact that in classical equations it is assumed that the profiles are stabilized meanwhile in the simulations are not.