Heat Transfer And Pressure Drop Of Seawater-cooled Shell-tube Condenser With Helical Baffles

When shell-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles is used for cooling mixed hydrocarbons, it may reduce the equipment efficiency. In order to understand the condensing flow characteristics of LNG mixture in the shell side, a simulation model of the seawater heat exchanger with helical baffles is presented in this paper. The model is based on segmentation parameters method, which has considered the heat and mass transfer and the change of the gas fraction along the flow process. And it reflects the influence of the heat exchanger structure, helical baffle parameters, flow process and fluid properties on flowing and heat exchanging. The simulation speed can be guaranteed by segmentation parameters method as well. In addition, the friendly graphic user interface has also been developed in this simulation platform, which makes it convenient for users to input parameters, calculate cases and get simulation results. Based on the simulation platform developed, the structure influence factors of the condensing flow characteristics in shell side are analysed, and recommended best helix angle values are given.In order to improve calculation accuracy for condensing flow characteristics in the shell side and, as well as to check the heat transfer and pressure drop correlaion, a set of experimental device for shell-tube heat exchanger with helical baffles was designed and built. The design includes working principle, test conditions, sample structure, system thermal calculation, electronic control and system error analysis.