CFD and experimental investigation of the gas–liquid flow in the distributor of a compact heat exchanger

• Published in: Chemical engineering research & design Vol. 92; no. 11; pp. 2361 - 2370
• Main Authors: Saad, Selma Ben, Gentric, Caroline, Fourmigué, Jean-François, Clément, Patrice, Leclerc, Jean-Pierre
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.11.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: CFD simulation; Channels; Chemical Sciences; Compact heat exchanger; Distributors; Flow regimes; Fluid dynamics; Fluid flow; Fluids; Gas–liquid distribution; Gas–liquid flow; Heat exchangers; Simulation; Three dimensional; Volume Of Fluid; CFD simulation; Volume Of Fluid; Compact heat exchanger; Gas–liquid flow; Flow regimes; Gas–liquid distribution
• ISSN: 0263-8762; 1744-3563
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2014.02.002

•Two-phase flow inside the distribution device of a compact heat exchanger has been simulated via CFD.•Distribution of the gas and liquid phase is satisfyingly reproduced.•Bubble topology and flow regimes can be predicted with the VOF approach.•This paper demonstrates that direct simulation can help design the header of compact heat exchangers. High performance of compact heat exchangers is conditioned by correct fluid distribution. This is especially true for gas–liquid heat exchangers where a uniform distribution is particularly delicate to obtain and where maldistribution entails significant performance deterioration. Several phenomena can lead to phase distribution problems: the fins may be subject to manufacturing defects or fouling, leading to shortcuts or dead zones. But the first source of maldistribution may be a poor distribution at the outlet of the entrance distributor. This distributor aims at mixing the phases and distributing them across the channels. The present study deals with the simulation and experimental investigation of the two-phase distribution and flow regimes in a distributor located at the bottom of the cold flow pilot plant of a vertical compact heat exchanger. Air and water are the working fluids, and the range of superficial velocities inside the distributor is 0.9–8.8ms−1 and 0.35–0.8ms−1, for air and water respectively. Three-dimensional Volume Of Fluid (VOF) simulations are performed and compared to experimental distributions, pressure drops, and visualizations.