Experimental and CFD investigation of spiral tube heat exchanger

Abstract In this paper, the thermal, hydraulic and thermodynamic performances of heat exchanger with spiral coils are placed cascading on the cylindrical shaped shell inside the heat exchanger. Tube side pressure drop and exergy efficiency are considered as a hydraulic and thermo hydraulic performance whereas overall heat transfer coefficient (U), effectiveness are considered as thermal performance. The tube side flow rate varies from 2 to 6 lpm and shell has two flow rates 4 lpm and 10 lpm. Flow conditions are varied and conducted the experiment to find the best flow rate inside the spiral heat exchanger. From the experiment results effectiveness, nusselt number, prandtl number, heat transfer rate, overall heat transfer coefficient and exergy efficiency, to validate the outlet temperature CFD analysis were performed on various flow rates. The experiment results are good in agreement with CFD results. Shell side flow rate of 10 lpm gives higher efficiency for the different flow rates of tube side from 2 to 6 lpm.