Integration of constructal distributors to a mini crossflow heat exchanger and their assembly configuration optimization

In this paper, the idea of coupling constructal distributors/collectors with a mini crossflow heat exchanger (MCHE) to solve the problem of flow maldistribution is presented. After a brief description of the design and scaling laws of the constructal distributor, experimental and simulation results have been discussed to investigate relations among flow distribution, heat transfer and pressure drop. It is shown that the introduction of constructal distributors and/or collectors could improve the quality of fluid distribution and consequently lead to heat transfer intensification of the MCHE, but it also results in higher pressure drops. Different assembly configurations involving distributor, heat exchanger and collector have also been compared. The configuration where the inlet is equipped with a conventional pyramid distributor and the outlet is equipped with a constructal collector (Apec) shows a relatively higher thermal performance as well as low pressure drops in our cases considered. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.