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Numerical Modeling and Performance Analysis of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger for Very High-Temperature Reactors

Figley, Justin T.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1244036854

Abstract Details

2009, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Nuclear Engineering.
Very High Temperature Reactors (VHTRs) operate at high temperatures (1,173-1,223 K) and require intermediate heat exchangers to transfer thermal energy to a hydrogen production plant or power conversion system. A promising plate-type compact heat exchanger for these applications is the Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger (PCHE). The objective of this study is to numerically model an Alloy 617 PCHE core with Helium as the working fluid using Fluent™ computational fluid dynamics software. The PCHE dimensions and operating conditions are those of a high-temperature helium test facility under construction at The Ohio State University. The test conditions considered are based upon the nominal design conditions of the test facility: operating pressure up to 3 MPa, mass flow rates of 10 to 80 kg/h, and hot and cold side inlet temperatures of 1,173 and 813 K, respectively. These operating conditions correspond to laminar and laminar-to-turbulent transitional flows within the fluid passages of the PCHEs being fabricated and modeled. The overall heat transfer coefficient ranges from 563-1697 W/m2K. The maximum effectiveness achieved is 85%. The maximum pressure drop of this PCHE is found to be approximately 1.5% of the operating pressure. The thermal duty of the heat exchanger ranges from 4.45 to 28.73 kW. The critical Reynolds number is found to be approximately 2800 for the semicircular channel as opposed to 2300 for a circular channel. CFD simulations carried out for laminar flow operating conditions are within good agreement with the predictions made using published correlations and empirical data. CFD simulations carried out for low Reynolds number laminar-to-turbulent transition cases are not accurately predicted by the correlations recommended in the published literature.
Xiaodong Sun (Advisor)
Brian Hajek (Advisor)
Richard Christensen (Committee Member)
120 p.
Energy; Engineering; Mechanical Engineering
Intermediate Heat Exchanger; Thermal Hydraulics; VHTR; Printer Circuit Heat Exchanger; PCHE

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Figley, J. T. (2009). Numerical Modeling and Performance Analysis of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger for Very High-Temperature Reactors [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1244036854

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Figley, Justin. Numerical Modeling and Performance Analysis of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger for Very High-Temperature Reactors. 2009. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1244036854.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Figley, Justin. "Numerical Modeling and Performance Analysis of Printed Circuit Heat Exchanger for Very High-Temperature Reactors." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2009. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1244036854

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1244036854
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© 2009, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.