Characterizations of aerothermal performance of novel cross-corrugated plate heat exchangers for advanced cycle aero-engines

The shape of the surface of cross-corrugated plate heat exchangers were parameterized, producing geometries with different surface profiles (sinusoidal and asymmetrical) and corrugation furrow shapes (straight and sinusoidal). A total of seven geometries were tested at laboratory scale using a Transient Liquid Crystal (TLC) heat transfer measurement technique, which produced data at high resolution (2.68×10-4 m interval). Pressure drop as well as heat transfer measurements were carried out at Reynolds numbers ranging from 1300 to 13,000 with uncertainty of 5.5% and 8.5% respectively, where the range of Reynolds numbers tested were representative of the conditions seen in the aero-engine cycle. High resolution heat transfer distribution data for these novel heat exchange surfaces obtained in the current experimental campaign are presented for the first time in the literature. This allows local Nusselt number in the heat exchangers to be examined in great details, from which the flow patterns could be inferred; thus enabling further improvements to be made in the design iteration. Correlations for Nusselt number and Fanning friction factor as a function of Reynolds number were also developed; the data were further summarized as volume goodness and area goodness factors to allow sensible comparison between different heat exchanger surfaces. The results of the current study provide extremely useful reference data for future design optimization of plate heat exchanger.