Effect of Baffle Cut Sizes on Temperature and Pressure Drop at Various Mass Flow Rate in a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) can be very useful to visualize the flow and the temperature fields on the shell side. In this present study, attempts were made to investigate the effects of varying baffle cut sizes at various mass flow rates on temperature and pressure drop of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger for zero degree (0°) baffle inclination angle. From the CFD results obtained it can be deduced that for an increase in baffle cut size percentage i.e. (decrease in baffle diameter) there is a reduction in the pressure drop and temperature differences in the shell and tube heat exchanger. This pressure drop and temperature differences adversely affects the overall performance of the heat exchanger and must be kept as little as possible thus showing that the performance of the shell and tube heat exchanger would increase if there is an overall increase in the baffle cut size as this would aid the flow and proper mixing and the heat transfer of the fluids.