A novel shell-and-tube heat exchanger with new plate baffles is proposed. It is numerically investigated in comparison with a shell-and-tube heat exchanger with rod baffles. Commercial softwares FLUENT 6.3 and GAMBIT 2.3 are adopted for modeling and computational calculations. The modeling approach is verified with experimental approach. The shell-side results of heat transfer, flow performance, and comprehensive performance are analyzed. The Nusselt number for the plate baffles heat exchanger is around 128-139% of that for the rod baffles heat exchanger. The pressure drop for the novel one is about 139-147% of that for the rod baffles heat exchanger. Overall, the novel plate baffles heat exchanger illustrates evidently higher comprehensive performance (115-122%) than the rod baffles one. The temperature field, pressure field, and path lines are analyzed to demonstrate the advantage of the novel shell-and-tube heat exchanger. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.