Numerical and empirical simulation of fluid flow in a spiral plate heat exchanger with Nusselt number correlation development

In this study, a counter flow Spiral Plate Heat Exchanger (SPHX) has been designed and modeled. Unlike traditional heat exchangers, SPHX effectively mitigates fouling and clogging during its operation. The study uses ANSYS Fluent to conduct a numerical analysis of the SPHX, taking into account operating parameters such as temperature and mass flow rates. The analysis is repeated for various mass flow rates of hot and cold fluids while maintaining their inlet temperatures constant. The numerical analysis examines the temperature distribution and heat transfer rate of the fluids. Additionally, a new correlation for the Nusselt number has been developed using non-linear regression analysis to assess the heat transfer coefficient of hot and cold fluids in the SPHX. This correlation is expected to be valuable for practical applications. The correlation is in good agreement with the numerical results, with an error range of & PLUSMN; 2%. The results have also been validated using empirical data from literature, and the outcomes are in good agreement.