Heat transfer and flow friction in perforated plate heat exchangers

An introduction to the design, fabrication, and use of perforated plate heat exchangers is presented. Emphasis is placed on the numerical solution of the heat exchange equations, and methods are given for determining the characteristics of the perforated plate heat exchanger required for a given application directly from the parameters of the application, the properties of the perforated plate matrix material, and the properties of the working fluid. Topics addressed include pressure drop, plate conduction, and corrections for longitudinal thermal conductivity in the exchanger and entrance effects. Experimental data confirm the design approach. Consequently, this heat exchanger configuration holds much promise for high-efficiency, low-volume applications.