Performance Analysis of a Plastic Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchanger

Abstract

This paper presents an experimental investigation of the performance of an all-plastic heat exchanger. Plastic conical turbulators were inserted in the exchanger tubes to enhance the overall heat transfer process 1.5 to 3.5 folds. The results of performance tests indicated a limiting value for the overall heat transfer coefficient corresponding to the thickness and the conductive thermal resistance of the plastic tubes. In addition, the results did not show significant increase in the total tube-side pressure drop due to the use of turbulators. The heat transfer enhancement was evaluated on a thermoeconomic basis using a dimensionless exergy destruction function. Physical and chemical characteristic tests conducted on the plastic material used, prevealed its excellent solubility resistance and relatively high softening temperature, which makes it attractive in some heat recovery applications.

Keywords

Plastic heat exchanger heat transfer enhancement convective turbulators exergy analysis

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