STG-13 Computational Fluid Dynamics Study of Impingement Plates
The results of a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study of impingement devices for inlet nozzles on shell-and-tube heat exchangers reveal the deleterious effects of increased velocity and pressure drop for a number of configurations. Simulations of entry flows with round and square solid plates as well as with rod grids were completed. The lowest velocity excursions and pressure drop were observed for the rod grid. Impingement devices did not provide erosion protection for single-phase flow. In contrast to what one would expect from their name, impingement devices for single-phase flow are more effective in redistributing the entry flow than protecting the tubes from erosion. However, they do protect tubes from impinging droplets or solid particles when these are present in the flow.