Article,
The effect of the corrugation inclination angle on the thermohydraulic performance of plate heat exchangers
International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 28 (8): 1469 - 1479 (1985)
DOI: 10.1016/0017-9310(85)90249-2
Abstract
It is well established that the inclination angle between plate corrugations and the overall flow direction is a major parameter in the thermohydraulic performance of plate heat exchangers. Application of an improved flow visualization technique has demonstrated that at angles up to about 80° the fluid flows mainly along the furrows on each plate. A secondary, swirling motion is imposed on the flow along a furrow when its path is crossed by streams flowing along furrows on the opposite wall. Through the use of the electrochemical mass transfer analogue, it is proved that this secondary motion determines the transfer process; as a consequence of this motion the transfer is fairly uniformly distributed across the width of the plates. The observed maximum transfer rate at an angle of about 80° is explained from the observed flow patterns. At higher angles the flow pattern becomes less effective for transfer ; in particular at 90° marked flow separation is observed.
