Abstract
This study evaluates the performance of a plate heat exchanger numerically and experimentally. The predictive model for estimating the heat transfer and frictional pressure drop across the plain and offset strip fins is compared with the experimental results with the parameters of Reynolds number and fin pitch. The heat transfer of the offset fin shape is 13.4% higher than that of the plain fin in the experiment in the case of Re = 6112 for the hot airflow and Re = 2257 for the cold airflow. A predictive model uses the effectiveness-Number of Transfer Units (NTU) method with the discretization in the segments divided into small control volumes in the heat exchanger. The difference of heat transfer and pressure drop for the plain fin between the numerical and the experimental results are approximately 1.9% and 5.9%, respectively. Thus, the results indicate that the predictive model for estimating the heat transfer is useful for evaluating the performance of the plate heat exchanger in the laminar-to-transition regions.
Highlights
Due to their high efficiency and compactness, compared with other heat exchangers, the plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is commonly used in various applications such as home appliances, electronic cooling devices, air-conditioning evaporators and condensers, chemical industries, cryogenics for separation, the production of petrochemicals, and aerospace
The finite volume method (FVM) is used to predict the performance of the plate heat exchanger in terms of heat transfer rate, with the mini-channels and segments divided into small control volumes
The amount of heat transfer has been found to increase in relation to increasing the hot airflow rate and in relation to an increasing Reynolds number of the cold airflow rate
Summary
Due to their high efficiency and compactness, compared with other heat exchangers, the plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) is commonly used in various applications such as home appliances, electronic cooling devices, air-conditioning evaporators and condensers, chemical industries, cryogenics for separation, the production of petrochemicals, and aerospace. The main advantages of PFHE are large heat transfer area, excellent heat transfer effect, light and compact design, low contamination rate inside the plate heat exchanger, less space than shell tube type, and heat exchange between multiple streams. Air-to-air plate heat exchangers are a very effective and inexpensive means for heating or cooling fluids in electronic cooling devices and air-conditioning systems. Air-to-air heat exchangers with offset fin shapes have a number of advantages, such as high efficiency, compact structure, high mechanical strength, easy maintenance, or capacity adaptability. Optimal design plays an important role in improving heat transfer and reducing the pressure drop
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