Experimental Investigation of the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Plate Heat Exchangers Using LiBr/Water as Working Fluid

Abstract

In this study, the heat exchange characteristics of water–LiBr solutions used as working fluid in a plate heat exchanger (PHE) were experimentally investigated at various concentrations. To analyze the heat transfer characteristics under LiBr/water conditions, a brazing type plate heat exchanger was installed, and the LiBr concentration on the high-temperature side was controlled at 56%, 58%, 60% and 60%. The results showed that the average heat transfer rate under water/water conditions was higher than that under LiBr/water conditions and the average heat transfer rate decreased as the LiBr concentration on the hot side increased. In addition, under both water/water and LiBr/water conditions, the average heat transfer rate and overall heat transfer coefficient increased as the mass flow rate of the working fluid on the hot side increased. When LiBr was used, the Reynolds number (Re) of LiBr on the hot side was more than nine times lower than that of water at the same mass flow rate owing to the influence of the increased viscosity. Based on the data obtained from the water/water and LiBr/water experiments, a correlation for predicting the Nusselt number (Nu) on the hot side in a wide range was developed.

Keywords

• heat transfer coefficient
• pressure drop
• plate heat exchanger
• LiBr solution
• concentration
• Nusselt number (Nu)