Surface selection and design of plate-fin heat exchangers

This paper presents a methodology for the design of compact plate-fin heat exchangers where full pressure drop utilization is taken as a design object ive. The methodology is based on the development of a thermo-hydraulic mode l that represents the relationship between pressure drop, heat transfer coe fficient and exchanger volume. A simple approach to surface selection based on the concept of volume performance index (VPI) is also presented. Surfac es that result in the smallest volume will exhibit higher VPI. Surfaces are compared on the basis of VPI and envelopes for best performance are produc ed. Simultaneous surface selection and design for full pressure drop utiliz ation can be achieved by using envelopes for best surface performance toget her with the thermo-hydraulic model. Design algorithms for cross-flow and c ounter-flow arrangements are presented and results tested by comparing them with case studies from the literature. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.