The heat transfer characteristic of shell-side film flow in spiral wound heat exchanger under rolling working conditions

In order to explore the shell-side heat transfer characteristic for spiral wound heat exchanger (SWHE) in floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) field, a model was established to simulate the heat transfer of shell-side film flow in real working conditions. The influence of rolling parameters and working parameters on shell-side heat transfer characteristic was investigated. For ethane, the results showed that the numerical model satisfies the accuracy requirement. In general, under static working conditions, the heat transfer coefficient increases with the increase of mass flux and the decrease of working pressure, but heat flux has little influence on it. These simulation results were consistent with experimental data and calculation results by correlations. And the heat transfer coefficient shows obvious periodicity under rolling working conditions. The rolling movement can enhance the heat transfer of shell-side film flow, and the influence of different parameters on heat transfer is different. These results will provide some instructions in the design and safe operation for SWHE in FLNG.