Analyzing performance values and optimization of plate heat exchangers with finite element method and designing high efficiency plate of plate heat exchanger

In this study, performance improvement studies were made based on 3 different types of plate type heat exchangers used in the heating-cooling sector, and 3 different types of original design heat exchanger plates were designed and produced. Design studies were carried out in a commercial feature-based modeling program. Analysis studies were carried out with a commercial program using Computational Fluid Dynamics technique. First of all, 3 different types of standard type heat exchanger plates were scanned by laser scanning method and modeled parametrically. The modeled heat exchanger plates were examined thermally and hydraulically with the Computational Fluid Dynamics technique and operating conditions were determined. Then, optimization studies were carried out on these plates and 3 different types of original plate designs were made. The novel plates were examined thermally and hydraulically using the Computational Fluid Dynamics technique. It was investigated experimentally with the test setup developed on two different types of plates. In addition, static analysis was carried out with finite element method in order to produce original plates. With the results obtained, standard and novel plates were examined with a test setup whose thermal and hydraulic properties were developed. For Type-1, thermal efficiency is increased between 5-10% and hydraulic efficiency between 4-12% according to different operating conditions. For Type-2, thermal efficiency is increased between 4-14% and hydraulic efficiency between 3-9% according to different operating conditions. For Type-3, thermal efficiency is increased between 6-9% and hydraulic efficiency between 4-8% according to different operating conditions. Keywords: Plate heat exchanger, heat exchanger, computational fluid dynamics, heat transfer, pressure drop, thermal efficiency