Temperature Distributions in Plate-Fin Type Heat Exchangers

Abstract

A method for obtaining the fluid and metal temperatures in a plate-fin type heat exchanger is presented. The method is general and can be applied to any configuration operating at any specified conditions. The method is illustrated by its application to recuperators of the cross-flow and cross-counter flow Z types for small gas turbines. It is concluded that the Z-type is more compact and will be least affected by thermal stresses.