Study of the heat transfer and flow resistance of large and small hole (LASH) baffle heat exchanger

In this study, heat transfer and flow resistance properties of large and small hole (LASH) baffle heat exchangers are studied with experimentally verified numerical models. Effects of the large hole diameters and baffle pitches are investigated. Results show that as a result of parallel flow, the shell-side pressure drops of the LASH baffle heat exchangers are greatly decreased compared with that of the conventional segmental baffle heat exchanger for the same baffle pitch. If the large hole diameter and baffle pitch are properly chosen, the LASH baffle heat exchanger presents a larger shell-side heat transfer coefficient and lower shell-side pressure drop. For the same shell-side pressure drop, the shell-side heat transfer coefficients of the LASH heat exchangers can be increased by as much as 25% compared with the conventional segmental baffle heat exchanger.

► We model experimentally verified numerical models of LASH baffle heat exchanger.
► Heat transfer and flow resistance properties of the heat exchanger are studied.
► Effects of the large hole diameters and baffle pitches are investigated.
► LASH baffle heat exchangers have smaller shell-side pressure drop.
► LASH baffle heat exchanger presents a larger shell-side heat transfer coefficient.