Numerical simulation of a plate-fin heat exchanger with offset fins using porous media approach

In this paper, the study was focused on a double flow plate-fin heat exchanger (PFHE) whose heat transfer element was offset staggered fin. Numerical simulations have been carried out to investigate the thermodynamic characteristics of a full-size PFHE via the porous media approach. Based on the numerical model, the effects of the dynamic viscosity and the locations of the inlet and outlet tubes on flow distribution and pressure drop of the PFHE were studied. The results showed that flow distribution of the PFHE was improved by increasing the dynamic viscosity. Therefore, the relationship between flow distribution and pressure drop was analyzed under various inlet velocity, and a correlation among flow distribution, pressure drop, and Reynolds number was derived. Finally, the middle-based strategy was proposed and numerically verified to improve flow distribution of the PFHE.