Simulation and performance analysis of a heat transfer tube in SuperORV

•A distributed parameter model is built for the simulation of SuperORV heat transfer tube.•Correlative formulae with compatibility for the LNG evaporating are reviewed.•Simulation is conducted to present the temperature distribution of the tube.•Effect of various heat transfer enhancement techniques is evaluated with the model.•Effect of different icing status on the heat transfer performance of the tube is discussed.

A heat transfer tube of SuperORV (Super Open-Rack Vaporizer) consists of a vaporizing section and a heating section, with different configurations. In this paper, a distributed parameter model was built to simulate the LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) evaporating process in a SuperORV heat transfer tube. In terms of diverse mechanisms about the different regimes of LNG evaporation, the heat transfer region is divided into the single-phase liquid convection zone, the subcooled boiling zone, the saturated boiling zone and liquid deficient zone along the vaporizing section, and the single-phase vapor convection zone along the heating section. Applicable correlative formulae for the heat transfer coefficients in various zones were chosen for the heat transfer model in our case. Numerical calculation was then conducted to present the heat transfer performance of the tube, considering the effects of the heat transfer enhancement techniques and the ice thicknesses. The distributions of some important parameters concerning heat transfer characteristics were listed for the performance prediction of this type of vaporizer under different freezing conditions.