This work carried a numerical simulation of heat transfer in a shell in the presence of square tubes under turbulent flow conditions, using CFD software to optimize thermal efficiency by arranging baffles in the direction of flow. The governing equations are integrated by a 2D finite element method with a shear stress transport model (SST) based on the Reynolds stress-predictive anisotropy concept to describe turbulent flow phenomena, in particular velocity, pressure and temperature fields. The results obtained show that the flow plays a crucial role in the thermal behaviour when the problem is combined, thus, the presence of oriented baffles increases the pressure drop by up to 30 % and minimizes the separation of the fluid around the tubes, which facilitates convective transfer at a temperature difference of 15 °C, significantly improves the development of a thermal boundary layer that is inversely proportional to the height of the baffles. The importance of the study is contributing to a better understanding of the coupling between turbulent flow dynamics and thermal transport in complex geometries involving square tubes and internal baffles. It highlights the role of flow organization in controlling boundary layer development, fluid separation, and convective heat transfer, thereby enriching the existing knowledge on heat exchanger optimization.
{"title":"Numerical study of flows around a tube bundle of heat exchangers, effects of baffle orientation on thermal and dynamic efficiency","authors":"Labbadlia Omar , Madaoui Zakarya , Dhahri Hacen , Zirari Mounir , Chiba Younes , Tahar Souad , Boughedaoui Nour El Houda","doi":"10.1016/j.tsep.2025.104469","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsep.2025.104469","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This work carried a numerical simulation of heat transfer in a shell in the presence of square tubes under turbulent flow conditions, using CFD software to optimize thermal efficiency by arranging baffles in the direction of flow. The governing equations are integrated by a 2D finite element method with a shear stress transport model (SST) based on the Reynolds stress-predictive anisotropy concept to describe turbulent flow phenomena, in particular velocity, pressure and temperature fields. The results obtained show that the flow plays a crucial role in the thermal behaviour when the problem is combined, thus, the presence of oriented baffles increases the pressure drop by up to 30 % and minimizes the separation of the fluid around the tubes, which facilitates convective transfer at a temperature difference of 15 °C, significantly improves the development of a thermal boundary layer that is inversely proportional to the height of the baffles. The importance of the study is contributing to a better understanding of the coupling between turbulent flow dynamics and thermal transport in complex geometries involving square tubes and internal baffles. It highlights the role of flow organization in controlling boundary layer development, fluid separation, and convective heat transfer, thereby enriching the existing knowledge on heat exchanger optimization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23062,"journal":{"name":"Thermal Science and Engineering Progress","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 104469"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145883394","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Access to clean cooking has advanced in recent years with the development of solar thermal technologies; however, the thermal performance and scalability of advanced solar concentrators for community-scale food processing remain insufficiently assessed. This study proposes a concise two-part methodological framework to analyze the optical and thermal performance of parabolic solar cookers and their application to solar bread baking. In the first part, a finite-element model is validated by comparing simulated results with published experimental measurements for two configurations: a Scheffler concentrator and a segmented conventional parabolic dish. The validated model is then extended to perform a comparative analysis of four parabolic concentrator geometries. The results show that the Scheffler cooker exhibits the highest performance (F1 = 0.30 (m2·K)/W, F2 = 0.85, PSC = 434 W, ηop = 0.899) and the shortest cooking time among the four parabolic configurations, all remaining faster than box- or panel-type cookers, due to its shading-free geometry and fixed-focus quasi-planar reflector. In the second part, a coupled heat- and mass-transfer model is implemented to simulate solar bread baking in a solar oven equipped with a Scheffler-type reflector. The model incorporates the thermophysical properties of the dough and predicts both temperature and moisture evolution during baking. For a batch of 32 cylindrical loaves (16 cm diametre, 5 cm height; total mass 15 kg), the oven reaches 90 °C in 110 minutes using a 3.914 m2 reflector, and in 85 minutes with a 5.324 m2 reflector. The findings confirm the system’s efficiency under solar-noon conditions and underscore its strong potential as a sustainable cooking solution for rural and developing regions.
{"title":"Numerical investigation of Scheffler parabolic solar ovens: thermal performance and bread baking application","authors":"Radiya Ouqazzamar , Said Yadir , Fahd Oudrhiri Hassani , Abderrahim El-abidi , Wail El Bazi , Houssam Amiry , Fouad Belhora , Jia-Wei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.tsep.2026.104479","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tsep.2026.104479","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Access to clean cooking has advanced in recent years with the development of solar thermal technologies; however, the thermal performance and scalability of advanced solar concentrators for community-scale food processing remain insufficiently assessed. This study proposes a concise two-part methodological framework to analyze the optical and thermal performance of parabolic solar cookers and their application to solar bread baking. In the first part, a finite-element model is validated by comparing simulated results with published experimental measurements for two configurations: a Scheffler concentrator and a segmented conventional parabolic dish. The validated model is then extended to perform a comparative analysis of four parabolic concentrator geometries. The results show that the Scheffler cooker exhibits the highest performance (<em>F<sub>1</sub></em> = 0.30 (m<sup>2</sup>·K)/W, <em>F<sub>2</sub></em> = 0.85, <em>P<sub>SC</sub></em> = 434 W, <em>η<sub>op</sub></em> = 0.899) and the shortest cooking time among the four parabolic configurations, all remaining faster than box- or panel-type cookers, due to its shading-free geometry and fixed-focus quasi-planar reflector. In the second part, a coupled heat- and mass-transfer model is implemented to simulate solar bread baking in a solar oven equipped with a Scheffler-type reflector. The model incorporates the thermophysical properties of the dough and predicts both temperature and moisture evolution during baking. For a batch of 32 cylindrical loaves (16 cm diametre, 5 cm height; total mass 15 kg), the oven reaches 90 °C in 110 minutes using a 3.914 m2 reflector, and in 85 minutes with a 5.324 m2 reflector. The findings confirm the system’s efficiency under solar-noon conditions and underscore its strong potential as a sustainable cooking solution for rural and developing regions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23062,"journal":{"name":"Thermal Science and Engineering Progress","volume":"69 ","pages":"Article 104479"},"PeriodicalIF":5.4,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145924377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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