The combined effects of longitudinal heat conduction, flow nonuniformity and temperature nonuniformity in crossflow plate-fin heat exchangers

Journal Article · Thu Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1999 · International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/S0735-1933(99)00053-6· OSTI ID:6440405

Ranganayakulu, C ^[1]; Seetharamu, K N ^[2]

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1. Aeronautical Development Agency, Bangalore (India)
2. USM, Tronoh (Malaysia). School of Mechanical Engineering

An analysis of a crossflow plate-fin compact heat exchanger, accounting for the combined effects of two-dimensional longitudinal heat conduction through the exchanger wall and nonuniform inlet fluid flow and temperature distribution is carried out using a finite element method. A mathematical equation is developed to generate different types of fluid flow/temperature maldistribution models considering the possible deviations in fluid flow. Using these models, the exchanger effectiveness and its deterioration due to the combined effects of longitudinal heat conduction, flow nonuniformity and temperature nonuniformity are calculated for various design and operating conditions of the exchanger. It was found that the performance variations are quite significant in some typical applications.

• OSTI ID: 6440405
• Journal Information: International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, Vol. 26:5; ISSN 0735-1933
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
CROSSFLOW SYSTEMS
FINITE ELEMENT METHOD
FLUID FLOW
HEAT EXCHANGERS
HEAT TRANSFER
PERFORMANCE
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION
CALCULATION METHODS
ENERGY TRANSFER
NUMERICAL SOLUTION
320303* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Industrial & Agricultural Processes- Equipment & Processes