Prediction of Thermal Performance of Cross Flow Heat Exchangers

A steady state heat exchanger performance model termed the matrix approach was previously developed by Silaipillayarputhur and Idem to study the performance of multi-row multi-pass cross flow tubular heat exchangers. This work utilizes the matrix approach to study the steady state sensible performance of cross flow heat exchangers subjected to varying thermal and design conditions. Parallel and counter cross flow heat exchangers have been considered in this study. The cross flow heat exchanger's input and the thermal performance are described through dimensionless parameters. Since the heat exchanger's performance is observed at each individual tube pass and since the performance is evaluated through meaningful and industry recognized dimensionless input parameters, this study shall benefit the heat exchanger designers in designing an optimum and a cost efficient heat exchanger.