A state-of-the-art review on thermo fluid performance of brazed plate heat exchanger for HVAC application

Plate heat exchangers have served various industrial applications for decades, with brazed plate heat exchangers (BPHE) emerging as preferred choices due to their favorable operating conditions. While extensive research has been conducted on flow patterns in gasketed plate heat exchangers, similar studies for BPHE have been lacking, given their analogous geometry. However, recent years have witnessed a surge in research focusing on single and multi-phase flow dynamics. Advancements in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) have furthered our understanding by providing insights into flow and heat transfer patterns, while also reducing the need for costly experimental tests of different geometries. This has facilitated the adoption of parametrization, bolstered by the feasibility and accuracy of numerical models. Nevertheless, substantial research remains to be undertaken to develop comprehensive models capable of integrating multiple geometric and flow parameters. This article examines existing research on BPHE and outlines potential areas for future exploration to address current research gaps.