Date of Award

12-2012

Degree Name

Master of Science in Engineering

Department

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

First Advisor

Dr. HoSung Lee

Second Advisor

Dr. Christopher Cho

Third Advisor

Dr. Muralidhar Ghantasala

Keywords

Experimental, heat exchanger, Colburn, plate

Access Setting

Masters Thesis-Open Access

Abstract

Experiments were conducted to measure the performance of several small brazed plate heat exchangers. A test apparatus was designed and constructed that allowed for the easy switching of the plate heat exchangers, as well as having the ability to electronically monitor and record the inlet and outlet temperatures, pressures, and flow rates. The flow rates and applied electrical power were controlled electronically by the same program which recorded the data. De-ionized water was used as the heat transfer medium to reduce the uncertainty related to fluid properties.

An existing mathematical model was used to create Colburn and friction factors based on empirical correlations and the given geometric parameters of the heat exchangers. The experimental data was then expressed in terms of these factors, and were then compared to predictions. It was found that there was reasonable agreement for the Colburn and friction factors, despite the fact that the existing correlations were formulated using data from plate heat exchangers with significantly lower surface enlargement factors.

Download

Share

COinS