Performance prediction of hollow micro-lattice cross-flow heat exchanger using a numerical approach

Abstract

Performance analysis of a hollow compact micro-lattice-based cross-flow heat exchanger is measured numerically. The diameter of the ligament, porosity, and L/D ratio of the micro-lattice structure considered here is 880 µm, 0.91, and 8.8, respectively. Numerical computations are carried out for several mass flows of hot and cold fluid and the performance is calculated in terms of overall HTC (heat transfer coefficient) and the results of numerical computations are validated with the experimental readings from the literature. The accuracy between numerical values and experimental readings from the literature is within 13%. Considering the complex structure of micro-lattice and difficulty in manufacturing the same, numerical simulations are found useful for the optimisation of the performance of the micro-lattice heat exchanger. The calculated values of overall HTC for these flow conditions range from 2201 to 3235 W/m²K which are higher than those obtained from simple micro-cross-flow heat exchangers.

KEYWORDS:

• Micro-lattice
• CFD
• heat exchanger
• multifunctional application
• microchannel

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).