Sensitivity Analysis for Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers Based on Entropy Production
In this article, sensitivity analysis was performed using bidirectional single method with shell-and-tube heat exchanger as the basis and the entropy production in the working process of heat exchanger as target, to explore the optimizing direction for heat exchangers with the objective to reduce entropy production. First, the differential element analysis method was used in a case study of the entropy production of the heat transfer process - including the three heat transfer processes of convective heat exchange inside and outside the pipes and heat conduction across the pipe wall and the flow process - the fluid flowing process inside and outside the pipes, and the typical process parameter - dimensionless inlet heat exchange temperature difference, operation parameter - fluid flow rate inside the pipe and structural parameters - the heat transfer pipe inner diameter and length were used as characteristic parameters, to obtain the sensitivity coefficients under the conditions of the example, being respectively 0.95, 0.3, 0.3 and 0.38. The study in this article can provide some support to the energy efficiency evaluation of heat exchangers.