Optimizing Baffle Height in Improved Elastic Tube Bundle Heat Exchangers

To clarify the optimal matching relationship between the inlet velocity [Formula: see text] and baffle height, based on the improved elastic tube bundle (I-ETB) heat exchanger, the vibration characteristics and comprehensive heat transfer performance (HTP) of I-ETBs inside the heat exchanger under various [Formula: see text] were analyzed numerically. The results show that there is an optimal baffle height coefficient [Formula: see text], which matches the specific [Formula: see text]. When [Formula: see text] is 0.1 m/s, 0.4 m/s, 0.7 m/s, and 1.0 m/s, the corresponding optimal [Formula: see text] is 0.70, 0.82, 0.87, and 0.73, respectively. It is evident that as [Formula: see text] increases, the optimal [Formula: see text] initially increases but subsequently decreases. Note that, in the design of heat exchangers, it is very important to customize the baffle height according to the operating conditions. Through the comprehensive evaluation of different cases, within the calculation range of this paper, it is finally concluded that the heat exchanger configuration of case I ([Formula: see text], [Formula: see text]) can achieve the best comprehensive HTP.