Development of exchangeable fins for heat transfer enhancement in existing shell and tube heat exchangers

To conventionaly extend heat transfer area in shell-and-tube heat exchangers, a method is proposed where sheet materials with high thermal conductivities are stretched among tubes. The numerical simulations are carried out to predict the performance of heat exchanger with or without the sheets. As a result, it is found that thermal contact resistances between the sheet and tubes rather than thickness and thermal conductivity of the sheet influence overall heat transfer coefficient. In the experiments, the carbon fibers clothes (27 W m1 K1) are pass zigzag though the tubes whose pitch is 20 mm. The heat transfer rate between hot water flowing in the tube side and air in the shell side are measured. No substantial improvement of heat transfer is unfortunately observed experimentally due to contact thermal resistance. The method proposed in this study conclusively has a potential that the heat transfer rate improves no less than a few ten percents.