OPTIMIZATION OF MATRIX HEAT EXCHANGER SURFACES

Ashish B. Nair
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India - 695016

K. Krishnakumar
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India - 695016

Anish K. John
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering Trivandrum, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India - 695016

DOI: 10.1615/TFEC2017.che.018017
pages 2145-2150

Abstract

Perforated plate matrix heat exchangers are mainly used for applications requiring high effectiveness and low volume. This paper attempts to optimize the parameters so as to obtain the best possible configuration for the heat exchanger. The main performance parameters taken into consideration are the Colburn factor (j) and the Fanning friction factor (f). The Colburn factor is related to the heat exchange taking place in the heat exchanger while the friction factor is related to the pressure drop across the heat exchanger. Clearly, the Colburn factor needs to be maximum while the friction factor needs to be minimum. The main objective of this paper is to optimize the heat exchanger conditions to achieve the above j − f relation.
The variables used are Reynolds number (Re), Porosity (p), Perforation perimeter factor (Pf), l/d ratio and s/l ratio. The meaning and significance of the parameters have been discussed in detail. The optimized values for these variables have also been found using Genetic Algorithm.