The Modified Analogy of Heat and Momentum Transfers for Turbulent Flows in Channels of Plate Heat Exchangers

Abstract

The modification of Von Karman analogy for turbulent flow in channels of Plate Heat Exchangers (PHEs) is proposed. The resulting equation enables to calculate film heat transfer coefficients in PHE channel on a data of hydraulic resistance of the channel main heat transfer field, accounting for the influence of channel geometry, flow velocity and fluid properties. The comparison with experimental data for water flow in models of PHE channels main corrugated fields is presented. It is shown the good accuracy of prediction for film heat transfer coefficients. In the limiting case, where corrugations are parallel to plate axis, the results of calculations by proposed Equation are in excellent agreement with Equation published for straight tubes and channels by Gnielinski in 1975. The analysis of the Prandtl number influence on heat transfer is performed. It explains the difference of Pr powers, which varies from 0.6 to 0.3 at correlations reported in different experimental papers on heat transfer. The proposed Equation can be used for modelling of PHEs heat transfer performance in a wide range of different applications in process industries.