Análise numérica da influência da rugosidade na perda de carga em um trocador de calor casco e tubo

Abstract

Heat exchangers are devices used to transfer thermal energy between fluids with diffe rent temperatures. They are widely used in industry to heat or cool fluids in production processes. However, the surface roughness of the walls causes pressure losses, directly impacting on the performance and energy efficiency of the equipment. The aim of this work is to numerically analyze the influence of surface roughness on the pressure drop that occurs along the pipes in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger. The methodology used in this study consists of geometric modeling of the shell-and-tube heat exchanger, using SolidWorks, software CAD (Computer-Aided Design) to build a 3D model of the equip ment based on its actual dimensions and characteristics. The model was then imported into the simulation software Ansys Fluent, where the physical parameters and boundary conditions were defined in order to carry out a CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) simulation to assess the impact of different levels of roughness on the pressure drop of a heat exchanger and compare the results with consolidated analytical models. The aim of this study is to obtain relevant information on the influence of surface roughness on pres sure drop in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger operating in countercurrent with one pass in the shell and one in the tube. It is expected that the data obtained will serve as the basis for a critical and careful analysis of the performance of this type of equipment. In addition, understanding the relationship between roughness and pressure drop will enable the identification of measures that can be taken to minimize pressure drop and improve the energy efficiency of the equipment. Therefore, numerical analysis using the simulation software Ansys Fluent, combined with validation using analytical methods, will enable a more precise and detailed assessment of the influence of surface roughness on pressure drop in shell and tube heat exchangers, thus contributing to the development of more efficient solutions for industry