Numerical Analysis on Performance Improvement of a Vertical Plate Indirect Evaporative Cooler with Baffles

Wenhe Zhou (), Shuo Cheng, Jia Wang and Yong Liu
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Wenhe Zhou: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Shuo Cheng: School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Lanzhou Jiaotong University, Lanzhou 730070, China
Jia Wang: Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430010, China
Yong Liu: Central & Southern China Municipal Engineering Design and Research Institute Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430010, China

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-18

Abstract: The performance of the Plate Indirect Evaporative Cooler (PIEC) can be effectively improved by incorporating baffles in the dry channel. However, in the dimensional influence of the baffles on PIEC performance there remains a research gap. In order to investigate the impact of baffle dimensions on the wet bulb efficiency, namely the average heat transfer coefficient and the cooling capacity of the PIEC, this paper proposed and verified a three-dimensional numerical model and method based on the species transport model and the Euler wall film model. At the same time, in order to obtain the equilibrium point between the enhanced heat transfer performance and the additional resistance induced by baffles, a comprehensive performance evaluation index is introduced. The results indicate that, under the same conditions, (1) the baffle effect on PIEC performance is significant at a lower inlet air velocity, and the wet bulb efficiency of the PIEC with baffles can be improved by 22.8%; (2) the baffle effect on PIEC performance is negative if its relative length exceeds 60% or the primary air inlet velocity surpasses 4 m/s under the conditions specified in this paper; and (3) the baffle effect on PIEC performance is significant when its channel height is lower and its channel width is larger, and the wet bulb efficiency of the PIEC with baffles can be improved by 29.3%.

Keywords: indirect evaporative cooler; computational fluid dynamics; three-dimensional model; enhanced heat transfer structure; comprehensive performance evaluation (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: 2024
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