Plate-fin Heat Exchanger Research Articles

Experimental investigation of the thermal and hydrodynamic performances of plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHE) using MgO–water nanofluid as an enhanced coolant

Experimental investigation of the thermal and hydrodynamic performances of plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHE) using MgO–water nanofluid as an enhanced coolant

Physics-Based Modelling of Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers

Aluminium plate-fin heat exchangers are widely used in automotive, aerospace, and other industrial applications. Extensive research has been conducted on these coolers, yet accurate predictive tools for their thermo-hydraulic performance are still lacking, due to the wide variety of geometric parameters and working fluids involved. This work proposes an original approach based purely on physical principles and established models, combining detailed numerical models for the extended surfaces and manifolds, with global models aimed at accurately evaluating overall head losses and heat transfer rates in plate-fin heat exchangers. Extended surfaces are studied by means of computational models of unitary fin modules under fully developed flow conditions. Entrance effects are analysed through dedicated numerical models. Numerical results on extended surfaces are extended to whole heat exchangers by global models for heat transfer and head losses, based on the ε−NTU method and the Darcy–Weisbach equation, respectively. The proposed approach is presented and validated through the analysis of a case study comprising several heat exchangers featuring different geometries and working fluids. Numerically derived heat transfer rates and head losses are compared with experimental data showing maximum deviations of ±20% for most of the tested configurations, highlighting the strength of the proposed modelling methodology.

Thermoelectric Energy Harvesting for Exhaust Waste Heat Recovery: A System Design.

Thermal energy harvesting for high-speed moving objects is particularly promising in providing an efficient and sustainable energy source to enhance operational capabilities and endurance. Thermoelectric (TE) technology, by exploiting temperature gradients between a heat source and ambient temperature, can provide a continuous power supply to such systems, reducing the reliance on conventional batteries and extending operation times. However, the integrated thermoelectric generator (TEG) system design research is far behind materials development. In this study, both experimental and numerical studies of TEG systems are designed and conducted to recover thermal energy. An integrated proof-of-concept platform is developed to simulate an exhaust gas emission system and demonstrate the designed TEG system performance. Triangular plate-fin heat exchangers are designed to collect heat from exhaust pipelines such as engine exhaust gas. While longitudinal trapezoidal fin cylindrical heatsink is designed for dissipating heat via forced convection, particularly for high-speed moving objects, the heatsink design is optimized using finite element analysis (FEA) simulations to maximize the temperature gradient and electrical output power. As a result, under a temperature gradient (ΔT) of 190 °C with commercial bismuth telluride-based TE modules, a maximum system output power of 40 W is achieved experimentally. Furthermore, a computational simulation is conducted to showcase the feasibility of the current system design under high-speed moving vehicle conditions. This study provides an advanced TEG system design bridging the TE device and integrated system transition and represents a potential advancement in the pursuit of high-speed moving objects such as autonomous and longer-lasting aerial platforms.

The Study of 3D Simulation on Heat Transfer Enhancement on Fin Tube Heat Exchanger Using Delta Wing and Winglet Vortex Generators

The vortex generator is one of the methods to improve heat transfer augmentation on flow characteristics in the air side of the fin and tube heat exchanger. There are some models of vortex generators to produce longitudinal vortices when the airflow passes the surface of the vortex generator. In the previous studies, the longitudinal vortices were able to reduce the wake region phenomenon behind the tube heat exchanger. This research aims to investigate the thermal performance of heat transfer on the collaboration between two models of vortex generators namely delta wing and winglet vortex generators on plate fin and tube heat exchanger. The simulation used four models (1) without the vortex generator (2) with the delta wing vortex generators (3) with delta winglet (4) with the combination of delta wing and winglet. The study was generated with computational fluid dynamics. The boundary conditions were set in the inlet as velocity and the outlet as pressure outlet. The airflow of velocity is represented by Reynolds numbers in the range of 4000 - 8000 with an interval of 500. The wall temperature of the tube is given at 400 Kelvin and the temperature of the airflow is given at 300 Kelvin. The epsilon model was used in the turbulence model of the simulation. The result explained that the thermal performance of heat transfer on delta winglets improved the airflow to induce longitudinal vortices and then reduced the wake region to improve the heat transfer coefficient more than other vortex generator models

A novel silicon carbide plate-fin heat exchanger and its thermal and hydraulic performance for SOFC cathode air preheater application

A novel silicon carbide plate-fin heat exchanger and its thermal and hydraulic performance for SOFC cathode air preheater application

Experimental comparison and optimal machine learning technique for predicting the thermo-hydraulic performance of Low-GWP refrigerants (R1234yf, R290, and R13I1/R290) during evaporation in plate heat exchanger

Experimental comparison and optimal machine learning technique for predicting the thermo-hydraulic performance of Low-GWP refrigerants (R1234yf, R290, and R13I1/R290) during evaporation in plate heat exchanger

Dimensionless performance mapping of cryogenic plate-fin heat exchangers with ortho-para hydrogen continuous conversion for hydrogen liquefaction

Dimensionless performance mapping of cryogenic plate-fin heat exchangers with ortho-para hydrogen continuous conversion for hydrogen liquefaction

AI-Enhanced Generative Design for Efficient Heat Exchangers in Thermoelectric Generators: Revolutionizing Waste Heat Recovery in Thermoelectricity

Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) offer the potential for converting waste heat into electricity, but their efficiency, particularly at low temperatures, remains inadequate. Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers (PFHEs) in TEG systems are not fully optimized, resulting in limited efficiency and applicability. The low conversion efficiency of TEGs means only a small fraction of waste heat is utilized, posing challenges to their long-term viability. While Genetic Algorithms (GAs) have shown promise in optimizing heat exchanger designs, advanced methods like Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGAII) have yet to be fully applied for PFHE TEG design. This study addresses these challenges by using NSGA-II, combined with a semi-empirical model, to optimize PFHE design in TEG systems. The optimization focuses on refining fin design parameters such as number, width, and height while adhering toconstraints on fin area and pressure drop. The optimized design achieved a 3.94% increase in output power and a 1.72% increase in efficiency at 373.15 K, with conversion efficiency rising by 154.74% and maximum output power by 549.64% at 428.15 K. In conclusion, this research bridges the gap by applying NSGA-II to enhance PFHE design in TEGs, significantly improving performance and sustainability. Future work will explore alternative models and further optimization to achieve even higher efficiencies.

Exploration and numerical study of new structures for high-efficiency and low-resistance vehicle-mounted plate-fin heat exchanger based on the three-field synergy principle

Exploration and numerical study of new structures for high-efficiency and low-resistance vehicle-mounted plate-fin heat exchanger based on the three-field synergy principle

Multiphysics Studies of 3D Plate Fin Heat Exchanger Filled with Ortho-Para-Hydrogen Conversion Catalyst for Hydrogen Liquefaction

Multiphysics Studies of 3D Plate Fin Heat Exchanger Filled with Ortho-Para-Hydrogen Conversion Catalyst for Hydrogen Liquefaction

Inclined Installation Effect on the Offset Strip Finned Heat Exchanger Designed for a Hybrid Electric Propulsion System in Electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing

The plate-fin heat exchanger was designed for the liquid cooling thermal management system of the hybrid electric propulsion system for an electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle. The offset-strip fin design was applied, and the performance of the heat exchanger was evaluated, particularly with respect to the inclination of the airflow entering the heat exchanger. The estimated performance during the design phase matched well with the experimental results. The inclination of the heat exchanger had a minimal effect on thermal performance, with a slight increase in performance as the inclination increased. However, the pressure difference along the airflow was affected, likely increasing as the inclination increased. The sensitivity of various parameters on coolant temperature was also investigated. The air inlet temperature had a significant effect on coolant temperature, followed by the coolant flow rate. Therefore, when designing the thermal management system, careful consideration should be given to the ambient air temperature and coolant flow rate.

Performance analysis of a low-pressure cryogenic vaporizer for liquified hydrogen supply system

Performance analysis of a low-pressure cryogenic vaporizer for liquified hydrogen supply system

Effect of plate-fin heat exchanger structural parameters on the performance of a cascade refrigeration system

Effect of plate-fin heat exchanger structural parameters on the performance of a cascade refrigeration system

A novel balanced teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm for optimal design of high efficiency plate-fin heat exchanger

A novel balanced teaching-learning-based optimization algorithm for optimal design of high efficiency plate-fin heat exchanger

Experimental investigation of forced convection heat transfer of heat exchangers with different pin geometries in in-line and staggered design

Experimental investigation of forced convection heat transfer of heat exchangers with different pin geometries in in-line and staggered design

Experimental insights into thermoelectric freezer systems: Feasibility and efficiency

Experimental insights into thermoelectric freezer systems: Feasibility and efficiency

Enhancing plate-fin heat exchanger hydraulic thermal performance through air-side fin optimization based on pseudo-3D topology optimization

Enhancing plate-fin heat exchanger hydraulic thermal performance through air-side fin optimization based on pseudo-3D topology optimization

Heat Transfer during Downflow Condensation of R21 in Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger with Inclined Texture

Heat Transfer during Downflow Condensation of R21 in Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger with Inclined Texture

Thermodynamic and Economic Optimization of Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers Using the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm

Thermodynamic and Economic Optimization of Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers Using the Grasshopper Optimization Algorithm

Wet cooling of air on plate finned tube heat exchangers

Wet cooling of air on plate finned tube heat exchangers