Heat exchange area of U-tube heat exchanger
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Experts, when performing heat transfer calculations for U-tube heat exchangers, should the area of the bent sections be taken into account or not?
All the heat exchange sections need to be calculated, right?
The U-shaped section has poor heat exchange; according to standards, it can be ignored, but you may consider it if space is limited. In fact, the heat transfer coefficient is a theoretical value, not an exact one.
For heat transfer calculations, it is necessary to determine whether the ends of the U-tube are included in the calculation; if they are considered, their area is taken into account, while if not, they are ignored (in the case of fully supported plates). The explanations in GB/T151-2014 have also been revised compared to previous versions. Additionally: Engineering companies tend to be cautious in their approach and usually do not consider such options when designing.
Theoretical calculations probably aren’t that accurate; I’d better be cautious and ignore them! ! Thank you all! !
It depends; analyze each specific issue on its own. It is generally not considered in domestic applications, but HTRI offers options for nozzle at/before/after. If there is a full support plate at the U-turn, it will definitely not be considered.