Modelling and Optimization of Geometrical Parameters in Design of the Wavy-Fin-Plate Compact Heat Exchanger by Taguchi method

The wavy channels increases the performance of thermal apparatuses and decreases the their size. The design parameters of wavy-plate heat exchangers are the pitch, height, thickness, length of channel and wave-length and wave-amplitude. In the present syudy, to optimum the performance of wavy-plate heat exchangers, a Taguchi method is utilized for 25 models in five levels. Thermal-hydraulic performance of the models is investigated using an appropriate 3D-CFD simulation. Then, the variance analysis is applied to detect the optimum values and more effective parameters on heat transfer rate and pressure drop. The results indicated that the most effective geometrical parameters on f factor and the criterion of evaluating performance j/f is wavy amplitude. The wavy-amplitude on j factor has the most influence in the laminar regime, but its importance is gradually reduced at higher Reynolds numbers and the importance of pitch is increased. The wavelength is the second effective characteristic for j, f, and j/f factors in all Reynolds numbers.