Shell-and-tube heat exchangers performance improvement employing hybrid segmental–helical baffles and ribbed tubes combination

In the present research, a new hybrid segmental–helical baffles shell-and-tube heat exchanger (HSHB-STHX) with various ribbed tubes is studied employing the SolidWorks Flow Simulation software by the computational fluid dynamic method. To improve the referred device with the current segmental baffle, two approaches are employed, applying a new baffle with a single shell pass and employing the ribbed tube, considering three different rib shapes (circular, triangular, and rectangular) arrangement. Besides, by comparing the different hydrothermal parameters such as efficiency evaluation coefficient, heat transfer to pressure drop (Q/∆p), performance evaluation criteria (PEC), the ratio of Nusselt number to pressure drop (Nu/∆p), and pressure drop, the best hybrid baffle arrangement (distance and angle of orientation in the central zone) and the ribbed tube with different rib shapes (circular, triangular, and rectangular) is presented. Based on the obtained results, the HSHB-STHX with six segmental baffles and 90° angle of orientation with rectangular ribbed tube is presented as the best model in PEC’s view point than that of other models. The PEC of the HSHB-STHX with the rectangular ribbed tube is 41, 35.54, and 37% greater than the HSHB-STHX, helical baffles STHX (HB-STHX), and segmental baffles STHX (SB-STHX) without rib, respectively. Performance evaluation criteria (PEC) values for various type of shell and tube heat exchanger with mass flow rate. SB-STHE: Segmental Baffle shell and tube heat exchanger. HB-STHE: Helical Baffle shell and tube heat exchanger. HSHB-STHE: Hybrid Segmental–Helical Baffle shell and tube heat exchanger. HSHB-STHE (Rect.): Ribbed tube Hybrid Segmental–Helical Baffle shell and tube heat exchanger.