Computational fluid dynamics simulation for hot gas temperature and pressure drop prediction to prevent acid vapor condensation in a heat recovery steam generator system
Abstract:
Heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) is a crucial unit in gas-fired power plant as it is designed to recover heat from flue gas. Acid corrosion prevention is one of the most important factors considered especially at last heat transfer tube bundle for HRSG design. This research objective is to perform Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) of hot gas across tube bundle to study inside tube temperature effect, transverse pitch, longitudinal pitch, and serrated height to fin height ratio on tube surface temperature and pressure drop. The k-ω SST model was used to illustrate fluid dynamics inside the heat transfer tube bundle domain and validated by comparing Nusselt number (Nu) and pressure drop from the simulations with ESCOA Nir Næss and Hofmanns correlations. The comparison shows an acceptable validation with model accuracy for Nu within 20% error while pressure drop was within 5 mbar. Studying of inside tube temperature effect showed no effect on Nu and pressure drop but to fin temperature which is slightly raised when inside tube temperature is increased. For the effect of transverse pitch, transverse pitch increment leads to Nu and pressure drop reduction and fin temperature as well. When longitudinal pitch is increased, Nu and pressure drop are decreased, and fin temperature is decreased. For effect of serrated height to fin height ratio, longer serrated height gives higher Nu, pressure drop and fin temperature. For all experiments, minimum temperature of fin equals to inside tube temperature especially at bare tube surface and base of the fin at back of tube because there was low turbulence.