Analysis of Corrugation Pitch Influence on Pressure Distribution and Flow Maldistribution in Chevron-Type Plate Heat Exchangers

The current research analyses the influence of corrugation pitch on channel frictional factor (CFF), channel pressure drops, and total pressure drop in a single pass chevron plate heat exchanger, across Reynolds numbers ranging from 2004 to 5421.Single corrugated chevrons with a chevron angle of 60 are utilized.Corrugation pitch significantly influences fluid flow distribution in the channels, consequently affecting flow maldistribution, and pressure drop in PHEs.Additionally, the enhancement in CFF for decreasing the aspect ratio at the same flow rate is examined.The study reveals a decrease in channel pressure drops in the range of 79.79% to 82.25%, when increasing the corrugation pitch from 12 mm to 30 mm and decreasing the aspect ratio from 56.4 to 31.33.The current analytical results have been confirmed by comparing them with the experimental findings reported in previous studies.Although higher pressure drops can enhance heat transfer by increasing turbulence and improving flow distribution, however they demand more energy for pumping, that can ultimately impact overall system's efficiency.Hence, finding an optimal balance is crucial for achieving efficient heat exchanger operation.