Abstract
A new MCHE, with S-shaped fins based on a sine curve, was proposed in a previous study. The pressure drop is estimated by 3-D CFD simulations to be 6-7 times less than that of a conventional MCHE with zigzag fluid channels, maintaining almost equal heattransfer performance. This study was done to confirm the simulation results through mockup experiments for recuperators of gas turbine reactors and to propose empirical correlations of the Nusselt number and the pressure drop factor for MCHEs with zigzag fluid channels and S-shaped fins. The pressure drop of an MCHE with S-shaped fins is 4-5 times less than that of MCHE with zigzag fluid channels, although the Nu number is 40% less. Overall heat transfer coefficients obtained from the Nu number correlations agree with the experimental data within ±5%. Pressure drops obtained from the pressure drop factor correlations agree with the experimental data within ±20%. Numerical experiments performed using CFD FLUENT code demonstrated the 10-15% accuracy of Nu number simulation and 20% accuracy of pressure drop factor simulation obtained for an MCHE with Sshaped fins.