A Numerical Investigation of Fluid Flow Maldistribution in Inlet Header Configuration of Plate Fin Heat Exchanger

Abstract The common assumption made for the design of heat exchangers is that the fluid flow in the header and core part is uniform. It is found that the flow maldistribution is very significant in the direction normal to the flow direction in inlet header of the plate fin heat exchanger. In the present work numerical analysis of a plate fin heat exchanger accounting for the effect of fluid flow maldistribution in inlet header configuration of the heat exchanger is investigated. Various inlet configuration has been studied for various Reynolds Number. A modified header configuration with double baffle plate having two arrangements are proposed and simulated. The two dimensional parameters are used to evaluate the flow non-uniformity in header, gross flow maldistribution parameter (Sg), velocity ratio (θ). A validation of numerical work is done by comparing results of numerical analysis for conventional header with the experimental results from the literature. A series of velocity vectors and streamline graphs at different cross-section. The numerical results indicate that the flow maldistribution is serious in conventional header, while in the improved configuration less maldistribution occurs. The flow maldistribution parameter (Sg) and velocity ratio (θ) is less in improved configuration as compared with conventional header. The improved header can effectively enhance the efficiency of plate fin heat exchanger and uniformity of flow distribution.

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