Local Measurements in Heat Exchangers: A Systematic Review and Regression Analysis

Abstract

It is widely known that most of the heat transfer and pressure drop measurements in heat exchangers are global measurements that are based on surface averaged parameters that do not measure the growth of the hydraulic and thermal boundary layer. Recent local heat transfer coefficient investigations on hydrocarbon condensation in plate heat exchangers suggest that the mean heat transfer coefficients obtained from local measurements are 10–20% higher than those obtained from studies based on a uniform wall heat flux assumption. Consequently, process heat exchangers which were rated by global measurements could be underrated. This systematic review presents a meta-analysis and regression analysis of the available pressure drop and heat transfer data for both single-phase and two-phase flows in enhanced heat exchangers. Data was compiled from studies in the last decade for similar Reynolds, Prandtl, Dean, Weber, and boiling numbers, pitch/diameter ratio, and other parameter ratios for statistical analysis and correlation development. State-of-the-art local measurement techniques like liquid crystal thermography are also discussed. Both practicing engineers and graduate students should benefit from this study.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank Lund University, University of Pretoria, and Vellore Institute of Technology where this review and analysis was carried out. No conflict of interest is expressed.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Bengt Sunden

Bengt Sunden, Fellow of ASME, is Professor Emeritus and Senior Professor and leading the heat transfer division at the Department of Energy Sciences, Lund University, Sweden. He obtained his Ph.D. from Chalmers University of Technology, Goteborg, Sweden in 1979 and served as Head of the Department of Energy Sciences, Lund University for 21 years, 1995–2016. His research activities cover multiphase flow and heat transfer, micro-/nano structures, nanofluids, and a wide range of applications, e.g., compact heat exchangers, gas turbine cooling, electronics cooling, and fuel cells (SOFC, SOEC, PEMFC) and batteries. He received the ASME Heat Transfer Memorial Award, 2011, ASME Heat Transfer Division 75^th Anniversary Medal, 2013, and Donald Q. Kern Award 2016. He is and has been associate editor for several journals. He has published more than 900 papers (over 450 journal papers) and supervised 51 Ph.D. students.

Josua Meyer

Josua Meyer in 2002 was appointed at the University of Pretoria as a Professor, and Head of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (1900 students), and in 2004, Chair of the School of Engineering (7000 students). He has received 11 different national teaching awards from three different universities, as well as an international award, in 2013, for “Best professor in mechanical and aeronautical engineering.” He has won more than 45 research awards including 23 awards for best article of the year or best conference paper. He has won the following national and international awards: Thomas Price Award, Rand Coal Award, South African Institute of Mechanical Engineers Medal, LT Campbell-Pitt Award, Literati Award, Chairman’s Award of the South African Institute of Air-conditioning, and Refrigeration, and Will Stoecker award. He has (co)authored more than 700 articles, conference papers, and book chapters.

Jaco Dirker

Jaco Dirker is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He received his Ph.D. from Rand Afrikaans University (University of Johannesburg) in 2004. He has published over 44 articles in peer-reviewed journals and 44 peer-reviewed conference articles. He has completed over five research projects with the most recent project being funded by the Royal Society of the United Kingdom for over R 9 million (South African Rand). He is a specialist in clean and enhanced heat transfer and has supervised several doctoral theses and post-doctoral scholars. He is a registered professional engineer at the Engineering Council of South Africa.

Bibin John

Bibin John is an Associate Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, India. He received his Ph.D. from the Indian Institute of Guwahati in Mechanical Engineering in 2014. He has published over 25 articles in peer-reviewed journals and conferences and is currently executing a funded project sponsored by the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India. He has over thirteen years of teaching experience and his research interests include enhanced heat transfer and CFD solver development for high-speed compressible fluid flow and heat transfer.

Yagnavalkya Mukkamala

Yagnavalkya Mukkamala is a Professor in Mechanical Engineering at Vellore Institute of Technology, India. He received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Vellore Institute of Technology in 2008 and M.S in Mechanical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1993. He has published over fourteen articles in various peer-reviewed journals along with numerous peer-reviewed conference articles. He has completed two funded projects as a principal investigator for the Government of India and numerous as a student investigator for the US Department of Energy and NASA. He has been cited nearly a hundred times and has an h-index over five. His research interests include enhanced heat transfer, design of enhanced heat exchangers, and automotive aerodynamics.