Enhanced heat transfer characteristics of a chevron plate heat exchanger for viscous fluid thermal processing applications

摘要

Steady-state heat transfer and pressure drop data are presented for single-phase viscous fluid flows (2≤Re≤400) in a plate heat exchanger (PHE) with chevron plates. With vegetable oil as test fluid (130 < Pr < 290), the data are for threedifferent plate arrangements, two symmetric (β= 30°/30° and 60°/60°) and one mixed (β= 30°/60°), in a single-pass, U-type, counter-flow PHE. The effects of chevron angle β and flow conditions (Re, Pr, μ/μ{sub}w) on Nu and f characteristics ofthe PHE are investigated. Depending upon β and Re, up to 3 times higher Nu are obtained in chevron plates compared to an equivalent flat-plate channel, though the corresponding f are also up to 6.6 times higher. Comparisons of these data with previouslyreported Nu and f results highlight the complex influence of chevron plate surface corrugations. Also, relative to equivalent flat-plate packs, chevron plates sustain up to 2.9 times higher heat transfer rates on a fixed geometry and constant pumpingpower basis, and require up to 48% less surface area for the fixed heat load and pressure drop constraint.