Effects of Baffle Structure Variation on Heat Transfer Performance in a Shell-Tube Heat Exchanger

Shell-tube heat exchanger is widely applied in industrial field by easily manufacturing as to various size and flow patterns. In this study, by changing baffle`s cut direction, tilt angle and rotational angle as well as by using SST (Shear Stress Transport) turbulence model in ANSYS FLUENT v.14, the heat transfer rate and pressure drop characteristics of inner shell will be analyzed to improve heat transfer ability. As a result of analysis, heat transfer performance according to cut direction of baffle has been improved with vertical model B and angle model C than horizontal model A. In addition, the tilt of the baffle and rotational angle of model D showed better result in heat transfer rate and pressure drop.