Enhancing heat transfer efficiency in corrugated tube heat exchangers: A comprehensive approach through structural optimization and field synergy analysis

In this paper, a precise and efficient method to optimize corrugated tube heat exchangers is proposed by combining computational fluid dynamics simulation with optimization. The optimization of tubular heat exchangers involves contradictory Colburn coefficient j , and the friction coefficient f , so it is a multi-objective optimization problem. The approximate model is obtained by an extreme learning machine, and the structure parameter of the heat exchanger is optimized by the nondominated sorting genetic algorithm-II. Compared to the results between the original and optimized tube, the optimized structure Colburn coefficient increased by 5.1 % and the friction coefficient decreased by 9.3 %. Finally, the internal flow field is compared qualitatively from temperature, pressure, and velocity. The optimization effect is further emphasized by using the field synergy theory.