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Operation and Multi-Objective Design Optimization of a Plate Heat Exchanger with Zigzag Flow Channel Geometry

Author

Listed:
  • Wei-Hsin Chen

    (Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
    Research Center for Smart Sustainable Circular Economy, Tunghai University, Taichung 407, Taiwan
    Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Chin-Yi University of Technology, Taichung 411, Taiwan)

  • Yi-Wei Li

    (Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan)

  • Min-Hsing Chang

    (Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Tatung University, Taipei 104, Taiwan)

  • Chih-Che Chueh

    (Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan)

  • Veeramuthu Ashokkumar

    (Biorefineries for Biofuels & Bioproducts Laboratory, Center for Transdisciplinary Research, Department of Pharmacology, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, India)

  • Lip Huat Saw

    (Lee Kong Chian Faculty of Engineering and Science, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Kajang 43000, Malaysia)

Abstract

The performance of a plate heat exchanger (PHE) using water as the working fluid with zigzag flow channels was optimized in the present study. The optimal operating conditions of the PHE are explored experimentally by the Taguchi method, with effectiveness as the objective function. The results are further verified by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). In addition, the zigzag flow channel geometry is optimized by the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm-II (NSGA-II), in which the effectiveness and pressure drop of the PHE are considered the two objective functions in the multi-objective optimization process. The experimental results show that the ratio of flow rates is the most important factor affecting the effectiveness of the PHE. The optimal operating conditions are the temperatures of 95 °C and 10 °C at the inlets of hot and cold water flows, respectively, with a cold/hot flow rate ratio of 0.25. The resultant effectiveness is 0.945. Three geometric parameters of the zigzag flow channel are considered, including the entrance length, the bending angle, and the fillet radius. The sensitivity analysis of the parameters reveals that a conflict exists between the two objective functions, and multi-objective optimization is necessary for the zigzag flow channel geometry. The numerical simulations successfully obtain the Pareto optimal front for the two objective functions, which benefits the determination of the geometric design for the zigzag flow channel.

Suggested Citation

  • Wei-Hsin Chen & Yi-Wei Li & Min-Hsing Chang & Chih-Che Chueh & Veeramuthu Ashokkumar & Lip Huat Saw, 2022. "Operation and Multi-Objective Design Optimization of a Plate Heat Exchanger with Zigzag Flow Channel Geometry," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(21), pages 1-22, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:15:y:2022:i:21:p:8205-:d:962516
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zhongchao Zhao & Yimeng Zhou & Xiaolong Ma & Xudong Chen & Shilin Li & Shan Yang, 2019. "Effect of Different Zigzag Channel Shapes of PCHEs on Heat Transfer Performance of Supercritical LNG," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-15, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Al-Zahrani, Salman, 2026. "Plate heat exchanger: A state-of-the-art review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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