Optimization of Heat Exchange Plate Geometry by Modeling Physical Processes Using CAD

Igor Korobiichuk,Viktorij Mel’Nick,Vladyslav Shybetskyi,Myroslava Kalinina,Sergii Kostyk

doi:10.3390/en15041430

Abstract

This article presents the possibility of evaluating the efficiency of the heat exchange element with a special stamping plate, which is based on the results of computer simulation. The method is based on a comparative analysis of convective heat transfer models implemented in ANSYS using a k-ε turbulence model. To conduct the study, 3D models of three different types of cavity geometry formed between two heat exchange plates (flat plate, chevron plate, and plate with conical stampings) were built. Simulation was performed by finite element analysis in ANSYS for channels formed by the three types of plates, one of which is a new configuration. The results of hydrodynamic and heat exchange parameters allowed for establishing the efficiency of convective heat exchange for plates of known structures and to compare them with the proposed one. It was found that the plates with conical stamping form the smallest channels through which the fluid moves. The velocity of the coolant is uniform throughout the cross section of the channel and equal to 0.294 m/s; the value of the heat transfer coefficient is the largest of the three models and is 5339 W/(m K), while the pressure drop is 1060 Pa. Taking into account the simulation results, the best heat transfer parameters were shown by the channel formed by plates with conical stamping and the highest pressure drop. To increase the efficiency, indicated by the ratio of heat transfer coefficients to hydraulic resistance, the geometry of the plate with conical stamping was optimized. As a result of optimization, it was found that the optimal geometric parameters of the heat exchange plate with conical stamping were achieved at a 55° inclination angle and 1.5 mm height for the cone. The results of this study can be used in the design of heat exchange elements of new structures with optimal parameters for highly efficient heating of liquid coolants.

Highlights

Plate heat exchangers are currently among the most widespread in the industry. This is due to several advantages that they have relative to their counterparts, where tubes are used as heat exchangers [1,2]
This research was implemented in the universal software system of finite element analysis ANSYS in the Fluid Flow CFX module
Temperature, pressure drop, and heat transfer coefficients follow for three types of stamping: flat heat exchange plate—t = 22.2 ◦C, P = 40 Pa, α = 2472 W/m2; chevron heat exchange plate—t = 22.4 ◦C, P = 250 Pa, α = 3340 W/m2; and plate with conical stamps—t = 27.8 ◦C, P = 1060 Pa, α = 5339 W/m2

Summary

Introduction

Plate heat exchangers are currently among the most widespread in the industry. This is due to several advantages that they have relative to their counterparts, where tubes are used as heat exchangers [1,2]. Along with several advantages, there is a certain limitation, which is connected with the need to corrugate heat exchange plates [5,6]. This is necessary to minimize deposits on plate surfaces and to create local flow turbulizations, which increase heat transfer coefficients [7,8,9,10,11]. Jiang et al [12] investigated the effect of geometric dimensions of the capsule-type plate heat exchanger on the efficiency of the heat exchanger They found that the number of longitudinal vortices decreases and the size of the longitudinal vortices increases with increasing Re or decreasing length-to-width ratio of the capsule. The authors established that for a specified pressure drop, temperature program, and heat load, the geometric parameters of the plate and its corrugations, which are able to make PHE with minimal heat transfer area, can be found

Methods

Results

Conclusion