Test platform and experimental test on 100 kW class Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger for Supercritical CO2 Brayton Cycle

Abstract

In this paper, a 100 kW class Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE) prototype was designed and manufactured as a parallel module of a full-scale PCHE recuperator for a MW class SCO2-BC system. A comprehensive test platform was built to do experimental tests on the prototype to verify whether its heat effectiveness and pressure drop could meet the design requirements. The main working condition which is derived from SCO2-BC was tested. Single factor tests were done to get the heat transfer performance of prototype near the main working condition, which represent the fluctuation of SCO2-BC system. Heat transfer effectiveness σ, pressure drop ΔP and heat load E were recorded. Mean heat transfer coefficient h was calculated. The results show that whether in or near the main working condition, σ > 95%, ΔPHot < 48 kPa, ΔPCold < 41 kPa. E = 104.7–120.1 kW. The max of σ is 98.4%. The PCHE prototype meet the design requirements. As the prototype is a parallel module of MW class full-scale PCHE recuperator, the test results could verify the reliability of full-scale PCHE in a sense. After a large number of investigation on domestic and foreign research papers, it is founded that the heat load of PCHE recuperator prototype tested and the test platform maybe the largest to this day according to articles reported. The platform will be a helpful test facility in developing new types of PCHEs for SCO2 power cycles in the future.