Experimental and numerical modeling of heat transfer in directed thermoplates

Journal Article · 19 March 2018 · International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2018.02.093 · OSTI ID:1435628

Khalil, Imane ^[1]; Hayes, Ryan ^[2]; Pratt, Quinn ^[2]; Spitler, Christopher  ^[2]; Codd, Daniel ^[2]

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1. Univ. of San Diego, San Diego, CA (United States); University of San Diego
2. Univ. of San Diego, San Diego, CA (United States)

We present three-dimensional numerical simulations to quantify the design specifications of a directional thermoplate expanded channel heat exchanger, also called dimpleplate. Parametric thermofluidic simulations were performed independently varying the number of spot welds, the diameter of the spot welds, and the thickness of the fluid channel within the laminar flow regime. Results from computational fluid dynamics simulations show an improvement in heat transfer is achieved under a variety of conditions: when the thermoplate has a relatively large cross-sectional area normal to the flow, a ratio of spot weld spacing to channel length of 0.2, and a ratio of the spot weld diameter with respect to channel width of 0.3. Lastly, experimental results performed to validate the model are also presented.

• Research Organization: Tulane Univ., New Orleans, LA (United States); Univ. of San Diego, San Diego, CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E)
• Grant/Contract Number: AR0000473
• OSTI ID: 1435628
• Journal Information: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, Journal Name: International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Journal Issue: C Vol. 123; ISSN 0017-9310
• Publisher: ElsevierCopyright Statement
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English