An Optimization Tool Developed for Fluted Tube Heat Exchangers

As the nuclear industry is moving towards smaller compact reactors and power plants through the designs of small modular reactors (SMRs) and microreactors, compact heat exchangers will minimize the size of the reactor designs. Replacing straight tubes with the fluted tube in a vertical shell and tube heat exchanger will significantly decrease its size. Fluted tubes enhance heat transfer through passive techniques and increasing the surface area but at the cost of increased pressure drop. An optimization code has been developed to find ideal design parameters that maximize heat transfer per pressure drop. The code compares 50 different standard sizes of fluted tubes through varying a key non-dimensional parameter that relates to tube to tube pitch and flow area. The non-dimensional parameter was developed to allow scaling of flow areas to a direct comparison of different size tubes.masters, M.S., Mechanical Engineering -- University of Idaho - College of Graduate Studies, 2020-0