Interactive And Real-Time Dynamic Simulation Of A Heat Exchanger Using Python
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Date
2021-07-01
Authors
Rajee, Tanusha Sharma
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Universiti Sains Malaysia
Abstract
The current pandemic has rapidly changed the landscape engineering education
as the need for social distancing has opened up unchartered areas such as the necessity
for virtual laboratories, due to traditional laboratory practices not being a feasible
option. However, the existing online lab modules still do not cover the extensive field
of chemical engineering as it lacks in areas such as heat transfer and thermodynamics.
In this study, a heat exchanger simulation is modelled with the use of the Python
programming language, which is a free open-source software. The mathematical model
implemented in this study to analyze the changes in the outlet temperature of the process
streams was validated successfully, with a small deviation percentage of 0.69% and
0.33% for the hot and cold streams respectively, when compared with theoretical values
obtained from literature. The Python Heat Exchanger Simulation was then developed,
and its feasibility was tested by conducting studies based on the steady state, which had
an error percentage of 0.71% and 0.33% as well as the dynamic behaviour, which had
an error percentage of 1.3% and 1.1% for the hot and cold streams respectively, when
compared with literature. The effect of manipulating process variables on the outlet
temperature of both process streams were also performed, in the terms of sensitivity
analysis to observe the simulation response to these changes. It was found that the inlet
temperature of both streams had a significant effect on the transient temperature
response of the heat exchanger simulation as compared to change in mass flowrate.