Comparison of the Efficiency of Two Types of Heat Exchangers with Parallel Plates Made of Varied Materials

Krzysztof Grysa, Artur Maciąg and Artur Ściana
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Krzysztof Grysa: Faculty of Management and Computer Modelling, Kielce University of Technology, 25314 Kielce, Poland
Artur Maciąg: Faculty of Management and Computer Modelling, Kielce University of Technology, 25314 Kielce, Poland
Artur Ściana: Faculty of Management and Computer Modelling, Kielce University of Technology, 25314 Kielce, Poland

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 24, 1-15

Abstract: The paper discusses two mathematical models for the air flow through a plate heat exchanger with parallel plates. The first exhausts the used air and then supplies the fresh air. The second exhausts the used air above the plate and simultaneously supplies fresh air under it (counter-flow exchanger). In both cases, the exhaust air heat is used to heat the supply air. The purpose of the research is to verify which exchanger uses the exhaust air heat more efficiently. The method of the Trefftz function was used to determine approximate solutions of the analysed problems. The results obtained for 1.2 mm thick steel, aluminium, and copper plates and for external winter, summer, and spring–autumn temperatures are discussed. The results indicate that steel is the best material for a plate heat exchanger, and the counter-flow exchanger is more efficient of the two. Thanks to the use of thin steel plates and the reduction of the air exchange time to a few minutes, cheap and efficient counter-flow exchangers can be obtained.

Keywords: heat transfer; heat exchanger; recuperator; Trefftz method (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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