Experimental thermal-hydraulic performances of heat exchangers with different baffle patterns

In the present work, the effect of the baffle pattern on the heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of shell-and-tube heat exchangers are experimentally investigated, including tri-flower baffle, pore plate baffle, rod baffle, segmental & pore baffle and segmental baffle. In order to compare the hydrodynamics and heat transfer characteristics of the five heat exchangers, a water-water heat transfer experiment system is built. Based on the experimental data, and at the same flow rate, comparison with segmental baffle, the hs of tri-flower baffle and pore plate baffle augment 33.8% and 17.7%. The pressure drop of the rod baffle, tri-flower baffle and segmental & pore baffle decrease are 70.1%, 19.5% and 31.1% lower than that of the segmental baffle. The comprehensive performances hs/Δp of the rod baffle, tri-flower baffle and pore plate baffle are all superior to that of the segmental baffle. Finally, the experimental correlative formula is raised for the four heat exchangers, and an optimal design scheme for shell side heat transfer enhancement is proposed. •Four types of baffle pattern of heat exchangers are experimentally compared.•Pressure drop and heat transfer performance are experimentally investigated.•Experimental correlative formula is fitted for the four heat exchangers.•An optimal design scheme for shell side heat transfer enhancement is proposed.