Feasible Design Space for Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers Using the Bell−Delaware Method

Abstract

This paper presents an improved methodology for generating feasible regions for shell-and-tube exchanger design, taking into account geometric and operational constraints. The approach is based on the Bell-Delaware method to describe the shell-side flow with no simplification; this approach, therefore, can incorporate the entire range of geometric parameters of practical interest. Compact analytical equations are derived from the rigorous Bell-Delaware method for the shell-side heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop. These equations aid significantly in the solution of the design problem. The solution involves a nested approach where the compact equation parameters are treated as iteration variables; a simplified heat exchanger model is solved in an inner loop, and the exchanger parameters are updated in an outer loop. Compared to a previous work, which uses the approximate Kern method to describe the shell-side flow, the present one provides a better accuracy for the thermal design of shell-and-tube heat exchangers with single-phase fluids. One example is presented to show the application of the proposed method. The alternative use of proprietary design software is also illustrated.

Analytical calculation of tube counts and geometric characteristics of tube layouts of heat exchangers

“…After that we examine the horizontal rows on y 1 axis. We use (13) and divide a/2+h/3 by 2h, so we find the number of them, as:…”

“…His method can accommodate any configuration of tube layout. For the design of shell-and-tube heat exchangers, Muralikrishna and Shenoy [12], Serna-Gonzalez et al [13], Sahin et al [14], Fettaka et al [15] calculated the number of tubes by using approximate empirical equations. The Tubular Exchanger Manufacturer's Association (TEMA) [16] has standardised the heat exchangers and published rules and technical specifications available for the scientific community.…”

Gravitational search algorithm for economic optimization design of a shell and tube heat exchanger

“…Depending on the flow regime and the operating conditions, the heat transfer coefficient on tube side can be calculated from the following correlations [22,23].…”

“…However, in this work the value of P has been taken as P=4 as assumed by Kern. Similarly, the pressure drop on shell side is calculated on the basis of Bell-Delaware correlations [22,28] (6)…”

Joint economic optimization of heat exchanger design and maintenance policy

“…Recent examples of design optimization methods are the works of Khalifeh Soltan et al [5], Unuvar and Kargici [6], Selbas et al [7], Sena-Gonzalez et al [8], Ponce-Ortega et al [9], Costa and Queiroz [10], and the optimization techniques utilized nowadays in heat exchangers optimization are frequently of genetic nature [7,11,12,13]. Although some scholars are skeptical about the use of precise optimization methods when applied to heat exchanger design, owing to the inherent fuzziness of the problem given the uncertainty in operating conditions and in the adopted design correlations [14], computer based optimization of heat exchanger design is an established and widely accepted research subject.…”