Improvement of Plate Heat Exchanger Performance Using a New Plate Geometry

Abstract

Plate heat exchangers are important tools used in heat transfer. Since they are characterized by a high heat transfer rate, high compactness, as well as easy maintenance, increasing their performance is a major and important objective for many researchers and related industrial manufacturers. Furthermore, it has a positive impact on fuel consumption and environmental protection. In this study, new geometry for the plates used in the plate heat exchanger is proposed in order to increase its performance. A numerical study of a single-phase counter-current flow model, with the new plate, is carried out using ANSYS Fluent software within the working conditions of the condensing combi boiler. The SST k-ω turbulence model is adopted to study the turbulent flow. The study concerns the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics of the flow in the exchanger (e.g., Nusselt number Nu and coefficient of friction f) and determination of its performance based on the parameter Nu/f1/3. The results of the numerical study are validated using a new analytical method. The values of Nu number, coefficient friction, and performance are compared with their corresponding values of new types of plate geometry and commercial chevron plates within the range of Reynolds number from 500 to 5000. The comparison shows an improvement in Nu number and overall performance of an average of 28% and 40%, respectively, compared to other commercial and new models.