Performance of a heat exchanger with secondary flow effects in fluid streams

Abstract

Design details and performance data are presented of a heat exchanger which harnesses the effects of secondary flow in fluid streams. The fluid streams within the heat exchanger are arranged to flow in counter flow arrangement in curved passages of constant curvature and rectangular cross section. The aspect ratio of the cross section and the curvature of the flow channels are selected to obtain the secondary flow instability in the streams over a wide range of flow rates. The performance of the heat exchanger is tested using hot and cold water streams with adjustable flow rates and temperatures. The temperature of the fluids is measured at several cross sections along the length of the heat exchanger together with the inlet and outlet temperatures of the streams. The local and overall heat transfer coefficients are evaluated. A second heat exchanger with identical dimensions, but without curvature in flow passages, is also constructed and performance tested under similar operating conditions. Comparison of the performance characteristics of the two heat exchangers indicates about 30 percent improvement in heat exchanger effectiveness and overall heat transfer coefficient.