Numerical Analysis of a Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Software

The condenser is a shell and tube-type heat exchanger that functions to condense the turbine output steam. To improve the performance of the condenser can by changing the tube size in the condenser design. This study, modeling with variations in tube diameter is carried out to determine its effect on condenser performance, such as heat transfer coefficient, effectiveness, and distribution of speed, pressure, and temperature. The study was simulated on CFD software using four variations of STHE tube diameter sizes. The highest temperature value on the cold fluid side obtained is 332.34 K at the variation of l = 600 mm; d = 25 mm, and the lowest cold fluid temperature value is 311.07 K at variation l = 600 mm; d = 10 mm. The highest heat transfer coefficient value of cold fluid is obtained at 1547.17 (W/m2K) at a variation of l = 600 mm; d = 25 mm, and the lowest heat transfer coefficient value of cold fluid is obtained 667.85 (W/m2K) at variation l = 600 mm; d = 10 mm. The highest effectiveness value was obtained at 0.2156 at variation l = 600 mm; d = 25 mm and the lowest effectiveness value is 0.0738 at variation l = 600 mm; d = 10 mm. From the research, it can be concluded that the addition of the width to the diameter of the tube has an impact on a more significant decrease in speed, a greater pressure drop, and a more significant temperature distribution. In addition, it also affects increasing the value of the heat transfer coefficient and effectiveness.