Characteristics of heat flow in recuperative heat exchangers

Abstract

A simplified model of heat flow in cross-flow tube recuperative heat exchangers (recuperators) was presented in this paper. One of the purposes of this investigation was to analyze changes in the values of some parameters of heat transfer in recuperators during combustion air preheating. The logarithmic mean temperature (Atm) and overall heat transfer coefficient (U), are two basic parameters of heat flow, while the total heated area surface (A) is assumed to be constant. The results, presented as graphs and in the form of mathematical expressions, were obtained by analytical methods and using experimental data. The conditions of gaseous fuel combustions were defined by the heat value of gaseous fuel Qd = 9263.894 J.m-3, excess air ratio λ= 1.10, content of oxygen in combustion air ν(O2) = 26%Vol, the preheating temperature of combustion air (cold fluid outlet temperature) tco = 100-500°C, the inlet temperature of combustion products (hot fluid inlet temperature) thi = 600-1100°C.

Keywords

• heat exchangers
• recuperative tube
• recuperators
• air
• preheating