A general simulation model for performance prediction of plate fin-and-tube heat exchanger with complex circuit configuration

A circuit data structure (circuit connection network) for a general description of different circuit configurations in computer programs is presented. On basis of this data structure, a general tube-by-tube simulation model and the corresponding code for prediction of plate fin-and-tube heat exchanger performance are developed. The code can be applied to any complex circuit configuration, and also has great flexibility in simulation of heat exchanger with different fin structures, tube types, and various refrigerants under both dry and wet conditions. The model and the code are verified against experimental results both in literature and authors’ data, and have been successfully adopted to simulate a practical heat exchanger. Design software based on the model is developed using C++, which is a highly flexible and customizable simulation platform with friendly graphic user interface.

► A new general data structure of circuit configuration is developed. ► A new general simulation procedure of heat exchanger performance is presented. ► Validity is verified against literature and our own experiment data. ► An example condenser with complex circuit is simulated. ► Software named FTHX-Calculator is developed.