Ring-shaped microchannel heat exchanger based on turning process

A ring-shaped microchannel heat exchanger based on turning process is developed. Guide vanes are designed and added for enhancing the flow distribution uniformity among microchannels. The performance of the ring-shaped microchannel heat exchanger with or without guide vanes is investigated by experiments. The influence of the flow distribution uniformity among microchannels on the heat transfer performance is analyzed. The results show that ring-shaped microchannels can be successfully machined by turning. Guide vanes can greatly enhance the flow distribution uniformity among microchannels. Due to the existence of guide vanes, the performance of the heat exchanger is improved, whether in countercurrent flow or in cocurrent flow.