Experimental Investigation of Two-Phase Flow Maldistribution in Plate Heat Exchangers

Abstract

After conducting a critical survey of the different categories of existing heat exchangers, the results of several experiments about the behaviour of a two-phase current in an open channel are reported. The results confirm the complexity of the problems induced in heat exchangers by flow maldistribution, especially when two-phase flows are considered in multi-channel systems. It is shown that severe misalignment of heat exchangers can lead to a loss of economic performance of more than 25%. Improper distribution of fluid flow causes longer fluid coils to form, and the liquid cochlea can eventually occupy a large space, thereby reducing heat transfer and disrupting the considered biphasic system. The use of a small diameter distribution pipe with properly spaced outlet holes seems to be a promising approach to fix many of these issues. It is found that the current distribution in the channels, in addition to the header pressure distribution, also depends on factors such as the geometry and the initial flow regime in the header.