Optimal Design of a Parallel-Flow Heat Exchanger Using a Response Surface Methodology

ABSTRACT

The heat and flow characteristics in a single-phase parallel-flow heat exchanger were examined numerically to obtain its optimal shape. A response surface methodology was introduced to predict the performance of the heat exchanger with respect to selected design parameters over the design domain. The design parameters were the inflow and outflow angles of the working fluid and the horizontal and vertical locations of the inlet and outlet. The relative priority of the design parameters was evaluated to identify the most important parameters, and these were then optimized using a response surface methodology. The JF factor was chosen as the evaluation characteristic value since it can consider the heat transfer and pressure drop simultaneously. The JF factor of the optimum model was 5.3% greater than that of the reference model.

This work was supported by the research fund of Hanyang University (HY-2004-I) and the Center of Innovative Design Optimization Technology (iDOT), Korea Science and Engineering Foundation. The authors thank Prof. Choi Dong-Hoon of Hanyang University for his comments and suggestions.