Flow Separation Prediction in a Single-Phase Flow in an Inline Tube Bundles

The vertical single-phase flow was studied on the shell side of a horizontal tube bundle. In the present study, CFX version 14.0 from ANSYS was used to predict the flow regimes in the two tube bundles; i.e. the 19 mm and 38 mm arranged in an in-line configuration with a pitch to diameter ratio of 1.32. The simulations were undertaken to inform on how the fluid flowed within the tube passages in different tube bundle diameter that gives different gaps between the tubes, where the fluid must pass. The results show that the maximum gaps between the tubes have no clear effect to the flow where the flow separation and re-attachment and the average velocity is the same when increasing the tube bundle. This is consistent with other published data.