EXPERIMENT NO.

6
AIM:
To study the design of plate fin heat exchanger.

CONCEPT:
A plate-fin heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger design that uses plates and finned chambers
to transfer heat between fluids. It is often categorized as a compact heat exchanger to emphasise
its relatively high heat transfer surface area to volume ratio. The plate-fin heat exchanger is widely
used in many industries, including the aerospace industry for its compact size and lightweight
properties, as well as in cryogenics where its ability to facilitate heat transfer with small
temperature differences is utilized.

CONSTRUCTION:
A plate-fin heat exchanger is made of layers of corrugated sheets separated by flat metal plates,
typically aluminium, to create a series of finned chambers. Separate hot and cold fluid streams
flow through alternating layers of the heat exchanger and are enclosed at the edges by side bars.
Heat is transferred from one stream through the fin interface to the separator plate and through the
next set of fins into the adjacent fluid. The fins also serve to increase the structural integrity of the
heat exchanger and allow it to withstand high pressures while providing an extended surface area
for heat transfer. A high degree of flexibility is present in plate-fin heat exchanger design as they
can operate with any combination of gas, liquid, and two-phase fluids. Heat transfer between
multiple process streams is also accommodated, with a variety of fin heights and types as different
entry and exit points available for each stream.

FINS GEOMETRY:
Plain corrugation is the basic form and is used normally for low pressure drop streams. Perforated
corrugation shows a slight increase in performance over plain corrugation, but this is reduced by
the loss of area due to perforation. The main use is to permit migration of fluid across fin channels,
usually in boiling duties. Serrated corrugation is made by cutting the fins every 3.2 mm and
displacing the second fin to a point half way between the preceding fins. This gives a dramatic
increase in heat transfer. Herringbone corrugation is made by displacing the fins sideways every
9.5 mm to give a zig - zag path. Performance is intermediate between the plain and serrated forms.
The friction factor continues to fall at high Reynolds numbers, unlike the serrated, showing
advantages at higher velocities and pressures.

APPLICATIONS:
Aluminum alloy plate fin heat exchangers, often referred to as Brazed Aluminum Heat
Exchangers, have been used in the aircraft industry for more than 60 years and adopted into the
cryogenic air separation industry around the time of the second world war and shortly afterwards
into cryogenic processes in chemical plants such as Natural Gas Processing. They are also used in
railway engines and motor cars. Stainless steel plate fins have been used in aircraft for 30 years
and are now becoming established in chemical plant.

AREA CALCULATION:

No. of passage for hot side fluid:

𝑁𝑃1 = (𝐿3 − 2𝑎 − 𝑏2 )/(𝑏1 + 2𝑎 + 𝑏2 )

No. of passage for cold side fluid:

𝑁𝑃2 = 𝑁𝑃1 + 1
Free flow area for hot side:
𝐴𝑂1 = (𝑃𝐹1 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 ) × (𝑏1 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 ) × 𝑛𝐹𝐼𝑁 × 𝑁𝑃1
Heat transfer area:
𝐴1 = 𝐴𝑃1 + 𝐴𝐹𝐼𝑁1

𝐴𝑃1 = {(𝑃𝐹 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 )𝐿𝐹 𝑛𝐹 + (𝐿1 − 𝐿𝐹 )(𝐿2 − 2𝑎)}𝑁𝑃1 + 2(𝑏1 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 )𝐿1 𝑁𝑃1 + 2𝑏2 𝐿2 𝑁𝑃2

𝐴𝐹𝐼𝑁1 = {2(𝑏1 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 )𝐿𝐹 + (𝑃𝐹 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 )𝐿𝐹 + 2𝑏1 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 + 2(𝑃𝐹 − 𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 )𝛿𝐹𝐼𝑁 }𝑛𝐹𝐼𝑁 𝑛𝑃