Structure optimization of helical baffle heat exchangers using entransy theory

The structure of helical baffle heat exchangers was analyzed and optimized using entransy theory for the first time. The helical baffle heat exchangers with 50% overlap and 18°/27° planes and an enhanced helical fold baffle heat exchanger were selected as the research objects, and the experimental data were analyzed by PEC (Performance Evaluation Criteria) and entransy dissipation theory. The results show that the entransy dissipation number reduces when the effectiveness and heat transfer unit increases. The 18° helical baffled heat exchanger is superior to the 27° one, and when the heat transfer units and the effective degrees have the same case numbers, the improved helical fold baffle heat exchanger has better performance than that of the plane one. The consistency between the analysis results of the entransy dissipation theory and the rule of PEC proves the applicability of the entransy theory in the analysis of helical baffle heat exchangers. Meanwhile, the results show that the heat transfer entransy dissipation number is thousands times of the resistance entransy dissipation number, which indicates that the heat transfer entransy dissipation is the main heat dissipation factor.