Heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in concentric tube heat exchangers

This study conducts a detailed parametric analysis of heat transfer and fluid flow in concentric tube heat exchangers using CFD simulations in ANSYS Fluent. Four configurations - bare, continuous finned, slotted, and combined finned-slotted - are evaluated for their thermal performance. The impact of mass flow rates and inlet temperatures on heat transfer, temperature distribution, and pressure drop is examined. Results show improved heat transfer in modified designs compared to the bare tube. Continuous finned tubes enhance performance by 12.68%-20.89%, slotted by 0.52%-3.33%, and the combined configuration by 14.47%-24.63%. Pressure drop changes are minimal for finned and combined designs, with a slight decrease for slotted tubes. Validation against experimental data yields a maximum relative error of just 0.19%, confirming model accuracy. The study highlights the effectiveness of advanced configurations in enhancing thermal performance while maintaining pressure stability, aiding the development of more efficient heat exchangers.