This study presents the advances in plate heat exchangers both in theory and application. It dresses the direction of various technical research and developments in the field of energy handling and conservation. The selected areas of heat transfer performance and pressure drop characteristics, general models and calculations change of phase; boiling and condensation, fouling and corrosion, and welded type plate heat exchangers and finally other related areas are highlighted.

Plate heat exchangers: Recent advances

Dimensional analysis on the evaporation and condensation of refrigerant R-134a in minichannel plate heat exchangers

Experimental investigations of heat transfer and pressure drop during the condensation process within plate heat exchangers of the herringbone-type☆

Refrigerant pressure drop in chevron and bumpy style flat plate heat exchangers

Constructal optimization of a plate condenser with fixed heat transfer rate and effective volume in ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC) system is performed based on constructal theory. Optimizations of entropy generation rate ( S ˙ g ) in heat transfer process and total pumping power ( P sum ) due to friction loss are two conflicting objectives for a plate condenser. With the conventional optimization method, the plate condenser is designed by taking a composite function (CF) considering both S ˙ g and P sum as optimization objectives, and employing effective length, width, and effective number of heat transfer plates as design variables. Effects of structural parameters of the plate condenser and weighting coefficient of CF on design results are investigated. With a multi-objective genetic algorithm, the plate condenser is designed by simultaneously optimizing S ˙ g and P sum , and the Pareto optimal set is obtained. The results demonstrate that CFs after primary and twice-constructal optimizations are respectively reduced by 7.8% and 9.9% compared with the initial CF, and the effective volume of the plate condenser has a positive impact on the twice minimum CF. Furthermore, the Pareto optimal set can provide better selections for performance optimizations of plate condensers.

Performance Optimization of a Condenser in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) System Based on Constructal Theory and a Multi-Objective Genetic Algorithm.

In cooperation with Alfa Laval Thermal AB Company in Sweden, a steam condensation test rig of a plate heat exchanger (PHE) was set up. The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of two kinds of typical operation condition in a PHE were obtained: complete condensation and partial condensation. This article introduces the test rig, various sensors, and the data acquisition system used in the measurements. The process of steam condensation in a PHE is analyzed in detail. The two-phase frictional pressure drop along this wavy channel was obtained from the measured steam condensation pressure drop. The Lockhart-Martinelli model was extended to predict the pressure drop of steam condensation in a PHE and was verified by the experimental results. Based on the data processing of 109 experimental points, a correlation of frictional pressure drop of steam condensation in a PHE is suggested. This correlation is recommended for calculation of the steam condensation pressure drop in a PHE.

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Q. S. Yang

Papers

Pressure Drop Analysis of Steam Condensation in a Plate Heat Exchanger