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Improvement of Plate Heat Exchanger Performance Using a New Plate Geometry

  • Research Article-Mechanical Engineering
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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.

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Abbreviations

A :

Cross-sectional area of flow (m2)

C:

Heat capacity coefficient (J/K)

C p :

Specific heat capacity coefficient (J/kg.K)

d h :

Hydraulic diameter (m)

f :

Fanning friction coefficient

\(\overline{h}\) :

Average convective heat transfer coefficient (W/(m2·K))

h :

Convective heat transfer coefficient (W/(m2·K))

\(\dot{m}\) :

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

Nu :

Nusselt number

NTU:

Number of transfer units

P :

Perimeter of wet cross section (m)

Pr :

Prandtl number

\(\overline{q}\) :

Average heat flux (W/m2)

Q :

Heat transfer rate (W)

Re :

Reynolds number

\(\overline{T}\) :

Average temperature (K)

T :

Temperature (K)

ΔT m :

Mean logarithmic temperature difference (K)

t :

Plate thickness (m)

\(\overline{u}\) :

Average velocity (m/s)

U :

Coefficient of total heat transfer (W/m·K)

λ :

Thermal conductivity (W/m·K)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (kg/m·s)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

ε :

Effectiveness of heat exchanger

τ :

Shear stress (N/m2)

ν :

Kinematic viscosity (m2/s)

b :

Bulk

out:

Output

inp:

Input

f :

Fluid

w :

Wall

c :

Cold fluid

p :

Plate

h :

Hot fluid

min:

Minimum

max:

Maximum

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Acknowledgment

This research was supported by scientific research projects coordination unit at KIRIKKALE University under the number 2019/062.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mechanical Engineering Department, Kirikkale University, Yahsihan, 71450, Kirikkale, Turkey

    Ahmad Aboul Khail & Ali Erişen

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  1. Ahmad Aboul Khail
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  2. Ali Erişen
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Correspondence to Ahmad Aboul Khail.

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We would like to inform you that this paper has been prepared, read and approved by the authors whose names are included in the article, and there are no other people involved in the research, and there is no objection to publication in accordance with the rules followed in our university. We confirm that the corresponding author has been approved and authorized to communicate with you in the correspondence relating to the arbitration and publication of the article. On behalf of all authors, I confirm that there is no conflict of interest.

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Ahmed Sadik is the second name of the author Ahmad Aboul Khail due to his dual nationality.

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Aboul Khail, A., Erişen, A. Improvement of Plate Heat Exchanger Performance Using a New Plate Geometry. Arab J Sci Eng 46, 2877–2889 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-05287-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-020-05287-8

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