文档介绍：Cryogenics 43 (2003) 673–678
ate/cryogenics
CFD simulation on inlet configuration of plate-fin heat exchangers
Zhe Zhang, YanZhong Li *
School of Energy and Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an 710049, China
Received 17 March 2003; accepted 14 July 2003
Abstract
putational fluid dynamics (CFD) program FLUENT has been used to predict the fluid flow distribution in plate-fin heat
exchangers. It is found that the flow maldistribution is very serious in the y direction of header for the conventional header used in
industry. The results of flow maldistribution are presented for a plate-fin heat exchanger, which is simulated according to the
configuration of the plate-fin heat exchanger currently used in industry. The numerical prediction shows a good agreement with
experimental measurement. By the investigation, two modified headers with a two-stage-distributing structure are proposed and
simulated in this paper. The numerical investigation of the effects of the inlet equivalent diameters for the two-stage structures has
been conducted and pared with experimental measurement. It is verified that the fluid flow distribution in plate-fin heat
exchangers is more uniform if the ratios of outlet and inlet equivalent diameters for both headers are equal.
Ó 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Plate-fin heat exchanger; Flow distribution; Header configuration