A numerical investigation on heat transfer enhancement and the flow characteristics in a new type plate heat exchanger using helical flow duct

• Published in: Cogent engineering 2017-01, Vol.4 (1), p.1396638
• Main Authors: El-Said, Emad M.S., Abdulaziz, Mohamed, Awad, Mohamed M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aspect ratio; CAD; CFD; Computational fluid dynamics; Computer aided design; Computer simulation; Flow characteristics; Friction factor; heat exchanger; Heat exchangers; Heat transfer; Helical flow; helical plate; Numerical analysis; Plate heat exchangers; Pressure drop
• ISSN: 2331-1916; 2331-1916
• DOI: 10.1080/23311916.2017.1396638

In this paper, a numerical investigation on heat transfer enhancement and flow characteristics in a new type plate heat exchanger using helical flow duct in a series arrangement in counter flow of water as the test fluid is presented. Computational fluid dynamics package (ANSYS CFX 16.2) is used. Helical plate with different pitch ratios and different flow channel cross section aspect ratio were studied for variation of Reynolds numbers. The results show that the pressure drop is about 34.87-6,269.92 N·m −2 for hot fluid and 15.06-3,379.42 N·m −2 overall. The HPHE illustrates evidently high comprehensive performance; effectiveness reach about 67.56 for Re h  = 2,000 and Re c  = 1,400 and pitch ratio = 0.24 with significant increases in friction factor than other pitch ratios reach 0.51 and decreases to 0.22 for Re h  = 10,000 and Re c  = 7,000 and pitch ratio = 1.31. Smaller aspect (width-to-height) ratio can enhance heat transfer rate. The effectiveness increases from 17.58 to 67.56 with a reduction in aspect ratio from 1.31 to 0.24 respectively at the same hot and cold fluid simulation conditions.