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2018

Heat exchanger heat transfer mechanism

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The heat transfer of heat exchangers is a discipline that studies the heat transfer between two media with different temperatures. According to the law of conservation of energy, heat transfer is also a form of energy balance. Thermal equilibrium is an important component of heat transfer theory, mainly including the energy transferred from a high-temperature medium to a low-temperature medium and the sum of heat losses of the two media, that is, the heat transferred from the high-temperature medium to the low-temperature medium plus the heat loss of the high-temperature medium equals the heat absorbed by the low-temperature medium plus the heat loss of the low-temperature medium. The heat transfer process is generally divided into three modes: conduction, convection, and radiation. In general, heat transfer in heat exchangers often involves the simultaneous presence of all three modes, but according to...

　　The heat transfer of heat exchangers is a discipline that studies the heat transfer between two media with different temperatures. According to the law of conservation of energy, heat transfer is also a form of energy balance. Thermal equilibrium is an important component of heat transfer theory, mainly including the energy transferred from a high-temperature medium to a low-temperature medium and the sum of heat losses from both media, that is, the heat transferred from the high-temperature medium to the low-temperature medium plus the heat loss of the high-temperature medium equals the heat absorbed by the low-temperature medium plus the heat loss of the low-temperature medium.

　　The heat transfer process is generally divided into three modes: conduction, convection, and radiation. In general, heat transfer in heat exchangers often involves the simultaneous presence of all three modes. However, depending on the specific situation, one mode often dominates. In industrial applications, the heat transfer in heat exchangers mainly involves the hot medium transferring heat to the cold medium through the wall, meaning the hot medium first transfers heat to the wall, which then transfers heat to the cold medium. This process involves both convective heat transfer and conductive heat transfer, which is the basic theory of heat transfer in heat exchangers.

　　The theoretical basis for the heat transfer calculation methods for heat exchangers is developed from the quantification of heat transfer. Currently, the heat transfer calculation methods typically use the Kern method and the Bell method.

　　The Kern method was developed in the 1950s and treats the heat exchanger as a whole. In addition to heat transfer, it also considers issues such as flow, temperature distribution, fouling, and structure in the calculation method, and it incorporates two-phase flow theory into the calculation method.

The Bell method was developed in the early 1960s based on extensive experimentation, introducing flow path correction factors. It is a semi-analytical method that more accurately solves the heat transfer calculations for the shell side of heat exchangers.

Both calculation methods are commonly used in heat transfer calculations, but currently, the Bell method is more frequently used for heat transfer calculations. Subsequently, a flow path analysis method was published domestically, characterized by its ability to calculate the relationship between the structure and pressure drop of the shell side when conditions in each flow path change, thus calculating the flow distribution between different flow paths, enabling designers to better analyze problems and take corresponding measures to improve the efficiency of heat exchangers.

The heat transfer calculation methods for heat exchangers are relatively complex, divided into two main categories: heat transfer without phase change and heat transfer with phase change. Heat transfer with phase change is further divided into condensation heat transfer and boiling heat transfer. The heat transfer calculation method should select different calculation formulas based on the conditions of the media and the structure, calculating a reasonable and economical heat transfer area and pressure drop, at which point the selection of the heat exchanger is optimal.

The heat transfer and pressure drop calculations for air-cooled heat exchangers are even more complex, but the basic equations remain the same.

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Chongqing Southwest Saiwell Heat Exchange Equipment Co., Ltd.

Specializing in the research, development, production and sales, equipment consulting, maintenance, and accessory services of heat exchange technology, equipment, and systems, and undertaking the design and installation of thermal system engineering, energy conservation and emission reduction, and energy conservation and emission reduction system engineering.

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