Thermal Performance of a Multi-U-Tube Heat Exchanger for Oven Heating Using Engine Exhaust Gas Waste Heat

The application of engine exhaust in heat exchangers (HX) has demonstrated potential in diminishing the generation of excess heat and improving fuel economy.The focus of this study is a computational model that incorporates a multi-U-shaped tube HX to supply power to an oven device while utilizing engine exhaust gas (EG) as a heat source.The precise objective is to determine the relationship between critical parameters such as exhaust temperature, mass flow rate, engine speed and thermal performance.The objective of the study is to establish a consistent temperature distribution and evaluate the enhancement of heat transfer through the utilization of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) ANSYS FLUENT version 15.0.The model employs CFD to forecast the thermodynamic response of the multi-U-shaped tube across various engine operating conditions.The dynamometer-derived boundary conditions are predicated on a four-stroke, one-cylinder compression-ignition engine (CIE).The testing procedure incorporates three distinct ranges of engine rpm (1000, 1500, and 2000 rpm).The simulation results indicate that whenever the engine is in operation, a pressure reduction of 102.1 to 148.1 Pa occurs at fluid velocity ranges from (4.1 to 5.4 m/s).Enhanced overall thermal efficiency and reduced heat loss are the results of employing a multi-U tube made of stainless steel, which exhibits commendable performance.The research demonstrates the advantageous nature of the multi-U-shaped tube heat exchanger by addressing excess heat in furnace applications and improving thermal performance.The utilization of stainless-steel multi-U tubes as a viable option for sustainable energy provision is facilitated by computational fluid dynamics' insights into heat transport enhancement.The simulation results indicate that the HX conducted temperature drop of waste heat with a range from 17.5% to 21.4%.