Heat exchangers are devices that transfer heat between two fluids at different temperatures. Give... more Heat exchangers are devices that transfer heat between two fluids at different temperatures. Given that they are used in a wide array of processes that require heat transfer applications (for example improving efficiencies of gas turbine engines), it is important to assess their performance and determine the ideal conditions that ensure they operate to their maximum capacity. For this project, a P.A. Hilton H102 heat exchange unit was tested by varying the parameters that were thought to affect the device’s performance the most. The three different types of heat exchangers built into the unit (shell and tube, plate and concentric) were investigated by altering the hot mass flow rate, the cold mass flow rate, the hot inlet temperature, the flow arrangement (parallel flow and counter flow), and the ambient temperature. The results obtained from these investigations mostly agree with the literature that was studied, apart from a few exceptions. The conclusion that has been reached is that the parameters altered above all seem to noticeably improve the performance of all the heat exchangers. However, there does seem to be a cap on how high the hot and cold mass flow rates can become, as the literature suggests that if the parameter in question is too high, then there is a decrease in the performance of the heat exchanger. The counter flow arrangement appears to be desirable as opposed to parallel flow arrangement because most of the results obtained show a noticeable improvement in the heat exchanger’s performance when the flow arrangement is set to the former. Of the three heat exchangers used, the plate heat exchanger had the results that presented the best performance and thus, it can be fairly concluded that it is the most desirable device when compared to the shell and tube heat exchanger and the concentric heat exchanger.
Heat exchangers are devices that transfer heat between two fluids at different temperatures. Give... more Heat exchangers are devices that transfer heat between two fluids at different temperatures. Given that they are used in a wide array of processes that require heat transfer applications (for example improving efficiencies of gas turbine engines), it is important to assess their performance and determine the ideal conditions that ensure they operate to their maximum capacity. For this project, a P.A. Hilton H102 heat exchange unit was tested by varying the parameters that were thought to affect the device’s performance the most. The three different types of heat exchangers built into the unit (shell and tube, plate and concentric) were investigated by altering the hot mass flow rate, the cold mass flow rate, the hot inlet temperature, the flow arrangement (parallel flow and counter flow), and the ambient temperature. The results obtained from these investigations mostly agree with the literature that was studied, apart from a few exceptions. The conclusion that has been reached is that the parameters altered above all seem to noticeably improve the performance of all the heat exchangers. However, there does seem to be a cap on how high the hot and cold mass flow rates can become, as the literature suggests that if the parameter in question is too high, then there is a decrease in the performance of the heat exchanger. The counter flow arrangement appears to be desirable as opposed to parallel flow arrangement because most of the results obtained show a noticeable improvement in the heat exchanger’s performance when the flow arrangement is set to the former. Of the three heat exchangers used, the plate heat exchanger had the results that presented the best performance and thus, it can be fairly concluded that it is the most desirable device when compared to the shell and tube heat exchanger and the concentric heat exchanger.
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