Effects of distributor configuration on flow maldistribution in plate-fin heat exchangers

Abstract

In this paper an original concept of a design that adds a complementary fluid cavity in the distributor is presented. The experimental investigation of the effects of distributor configuration parameter on the fluid flow maldistribution in the plate-fin heat exchanger is completed. The correlation of the dimensionless flow maldistribution parameter and the Reynolds number is obtained under different distributor configuration parameters. The experimental studies prove that the performance of flow distribution in heat exchangers can be effectively improved by the optimum design of the distributor's configuration parameter The ratio of the maximum velocity and the minimum velocity in the channels of the plate-fin heat exchanger can drop from 2.57-3.66 to 2.08-2.81 for various Reynolds numbers. The conclusions are of great significance on the optimum structure design of the plate-fin heat exchangers and can effectively improve the performance of the heat exchangers.