Thermohydraulic performance of a printed circuit heat exchanger with ribbed cross-connected semicircular channel

The printed circuit heat exchanger is a highly efficient device characterized by its compact design and exceptional resistance to high temperatures and pressures, enabling its widespread application in various fields. This study introduces a novel channel design for the printed circuit heat exchanger, where a ribbed cross-connected channel structure is implemented to enhance heat transfer performance compared to traditional designs. The Finite Volume Method is employed to simulate the effects of rib structure parameters (d/e) on the printed circuit heat exchanger's flow and heat transfer characteristics under laminar flow conditions. The results demonstrate that incorporating a unique ribbed channel design generates stronger longitudinal vortices, leading to a more uniform mixing of the fluid in the channel. At the same time, the presence of ribs reduces the thickness of the thermal boundary layer, thereby leading to more effective heat exchange in compact spaces. Compared to channels without ribs, Nu for the ribbed cross-connected channels increased by up to 24.51%, with a corresponding 32.02% increase in f. The study reveals that the optimal heat transfer performance is obtained with a height-to-width ratio of 5, whereas the best overall performance is attained with a height-to-width ratio of 4. When d/e = 4, the performance evaluation criterion is enhanced by 14.5% compared with the channel without ribs. The proposed ribbed cross-connected channel can significantly enhance thermohydraulic performance, offering substantial potential for practical applications in printed circuit heat exchangers.