A Cell Model to Describe and Optimize Heat and Mass Transfer in Contact Heat Exchangers

Vadim Mizonov, Nickolay Yelin, Piotr Yakimychev

.

DOI: 10.4236/epe.2011.32018                

Abstract

A cell model to describe and optimize heat and mass transfer in contact heat exchangers for utilization of exhaust gases heat is proposed. The model is based on the theory of Markov chains and allows calculating heat and mass transfer at local moving force of the processes in each cell. The total process is presented as two parallel chains of cells (one for water flow and one for gas flow). The corresponding cells of the chains can exchange heat and mass, and water and gas can travel along their chains according to their transition ma-trices. The results of numerical experiments showed that the most part of heat transfer occurs due to moisture condensation from gas and the most intense heat transfer goes near the inlet of gas. Experimental validation of the model showed a good correlation between calculated and experimental data for an industrial contact heat exchanger if appropriate empirical equations were used to calculate heat and mass transfer coefficient. It was also shown that there exists the optimum height of heat exchanger that gave the maximum gain in heat energy utilization.

Keywords

Direct Contact Heat Exchanger, Heat and Mass Transfer, Condensation, State Vector, Transition Matrix, Optimization

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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