Study on Three-Dimensional Numerical Simulation of Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger: Parametric Study

Abstract

This work primarily uses Ansys/Fluent CFD software to do a thorough 3D predictive numerical simulation in a stationary regime in order to study the heat transfer capabilities of a cross-flow heat exchanger. The main objective was to conduct a comparative analysis of four different cases by varying the fluid entry velocity (oil and water) and the set pipe layout of the heat exchanger, specifically focusing on in-line and staggered configurations. In order to do this, we looked at the heat exchanger's temperature distribution and fluid flow patterns. We also estimated the energy consumption and heat transfer rate to determine the heat exchanger's efficiency. We were able to cover the optimal design for thermal efficiency.