Model Validation for the Heat Transfer in Gasket Plate Heat Exchangers Working with Vegetable Oils

Many models for accurately predicting the performance of gasket plate heat exchangers were developed in the last decades, grouped in three categories: empirical, semi-analytical or theoretical/numerical, with the view to saving materials and energy through correct design of industrial equipment. This work addresses one such model, namely Lévêque correlation modified by Martin and by Dović, which is promising due to the correct assumption of the flow in sine duct channels and the consideration of energy losses caused by flow reversal at plate edges and the flow path changing when entering the chevron angle. This model was validated by our own experimental data under industrial conditions for vegetable oils processing, both in laminar flow (Re = 8–42) and fully developed turbulent flow (Re = 446–1137). Moreover, in this study, particular values for constants/parameters of the model were determined for the corrugation inclination angle relative to vertical direction equal to 30°. Through statistical analysis, this study demonstrates that this particularized form of the generalized Lévêque correlation can be used with confidence.

THE BEHAVIOR OF HEAT SINK-IMPINGEMENT COOLING WITH FLAT PLATE AND ARCED FINS MODELS

In this paper, a statistical analysis was applied to the numerical predictions of temperature distribution for the heat sinks. There are two types of heat sink with an array of impingement. The first type is a flat plate heat sink, and the second type is arcs-fins heat sinks. The second type category considers five models (A, B, C, D, and E). The shapes of fins were changed, but the thickness, distance between fins, and radius were held fixed for comparing and analyzing them depending upon the improvement of the fin geometry of heat sink. The heat sinks of the two types are subjected to multi impinging flow at different Reynolds numbers (7000-11000). Thermodynamic and hydraulic results were collected. The best model was calculated through a statistical analysis. The efficiency of an arcs-fin heat sink was superior to that of the flat plate heat sink. The findings of Model D were more appropriate than those of the other models. The concave arc near the heat sink's exit (model D) created better effect than the convex arc (model E), despite the fact that the (model D) shape fins being identical to (model E) shape fins (only rotated 180° at the same location). However, Descriptive Statistics manifested that in all situations, the mean temperature for (model D) is better than (model E). The results of comparison between the flat plate heat sink and models (D and E) evinced that the average heat sink temperature in the suggested design reduced via 12%, 8%, while the (model E) decreased by 12%, 7% for Re (7000, 9000), respectively. In addition, the two models maintained the same percentage of (8% and 7%) improvement at Re (11000). The correlation coefficient between the flat plate and the arcs-fins heat sink for model B has the highest value (0.809), while model A has the lowest value of correlation (0.673).

Comparison of the Efficiency of Two Types of Heat Exchangers with Parallel Plates Made of Varied Materials

The paper discusses two mathematical models for the air flow through a plate heat exchanger with parallel plates. The first exhausts the used air and then supplies the fresh air. The second exhausts the used air above the plate and simultaneously supplies fresh air under it (counter-flow exchanger). In both cases, the exhaust air heat is used to heat the supply air. The purpose of the research is to verify which exchanger uses the exhaust air heat more efficiently. The method of the Trefftz function was used to determine approximate solutions of the analysed problems. The results obtained for 1.2 mm thick steel, aluminium, and copper plates and for external winter, summer, and spring–autumn temperatures are discussed. The results indicate that steel is the best material for a plate heat exchanger, and the counter-flow exchanger is more efficient of the two. Thanks to the use of thin steel plates and the reduction of the air exchange time to a few minutes, cheap and efficient counter-flow exchangers can be obtained.