Testing and simulation of ceramic micro heat exchangers

Ceramic microstructure devices in form of counterflow and crossflow microchannel heat exchangers have been manufactured to be used in thermal and chemical process engineering. The performance has been tested using water as a test fluid with maximum flow rates of 120 kg/h. The results of the measurements are compared with global estimations using standard correlations for heat exchangers and a more detailed simulation using a local porous body approach of the micro structured region. The devices show stronger heat transfer and pressure loss than predicted by theoretical considerations. This result is mainly explained by effects of channel blockages arising from the joining process.