Numerical Analysis of Tube Fitted with Internal Baffles used in STHEx

Abstract

A numerical simulation was carried out for heat transfer in a circular tube fitted with rectangular internal baffles using CFD software. The Reynolds number and Prandtl number were varied in the range from 20 to 2000. In-house CFD solver is used for solving Navier-Stoke’s equation coupled with energy equation for internally fitted baffles as a computational domain. The baffles are attached alternately up and down equally spaced on the walls of the tube and constant heat flux is maintained at the surface of the tube. The result shows that the Nusselt number increases as the Reynolds number increases from laminar to turbulent flow. According to the profile, the Nusselt number almost remains constant between the baffles spacing. This study provides a framework for the design of heat exchanger system with integration of baffles internally.