MC-1 Microchannel Heat Exchangers in the Process Industry
This report addresses the use of microchannel heat exchangers (MCHEs) in the process industry. Microchannel types and sizes, as well as the challenges faced in industry-wide adoption of the technology, are briefly described. Possible solutions to these challenges and specific areas where HTRI can contribute are also discussed. One application-specific MCHE in the process industry, called a printed circuit heat exchanger (PCHE), is briefly reviewed. As a preliminary step, the feasibility of utilizing Xpfe to model a PCHE is investigated, leveraging experimental data from two open literature sources to validate the simulations. Heat transfer and pressure drop predictions from the Xpfe model are compared with experimental data. Results show that Xpfe can model PCHE performance within the range of its correlations, enabling an interim solution for modeling PCHEs until PCHE-specific methods are developed.