Expanded microchannel heat exchanger
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Authors | Joshua M. Pearce David C. Denkenberger Michael J. Brandemuehl John Zhai |
| Location | Michigan, USA |
| Status | Designed Modelled Prototyped |
| Years |
Expanded microchannel heat exchanger: design, fabrication and preliminary experimental test
This paper first reviews non-traditional heat exchanger geometry, laser welding, practical issues with microchannel heat exchangers, and high effectiveness heat exchangers. Existing microchannel heat exchangers have low material costs, but high manufacturing costs. This paper presents a new expanded microchannel heat exchanger design and accompanying continuous manufacturing technique for potential low-cost production. Polymer heat exchangers have the potential for high effectiveness. The paper discusses one possible joining method - a new type of laser welding named "forward conduction welding," used to fabricate the prototype. The expanded heat exchanger has the potential to have counter-flow, cross-flow, or parallel-flow configurations, be used for all types of fluids, and be made of polymers, metals, or polymer-ceramic precursors. The cost and ineffectiveness reduction may be an order of magnitude or more, saving a large fraction of primary energy. The measured effectiveness of the prototype with 28 micron thick black low density polyethylene walls and counterflow, water-to-water heat transfer in 2 mm channels was 72%, but multiple low-cost stages could realize the potential of higher effectiveness.
See also
[edit | edit source]- Design, fabrication, and testing of a polymer expanded heat exchanger for absorption chilling
- Experimental Characterization of Heat Transfer in an Additively Manufactured Polymer Heat Exchanger
- Towards Low-Cost Microchannel Heat Exchangers: Vehicle Heat Recovery Ventilator Prototype
- Open source laser system for polymeric welding
- Laser welding protocol: MOST
- Open Source Laser Polymer Welding System: Design and Characterization of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene Multilayer Welds
- Open Source Multi-Head 3D Printer for Polymer-Metal Composite Component Manufacturing
- Design Optimization of Polymer Heat Exchanger for Automated Household-Scale Solar Water Pasteurizer
- Expanded microchannel heat exchanger: Non-destructive evaluation
- Finite Difference Heat Exchanger Model: Flow Maldistribution with Thermal Coupling
- Expanded Microchannel Heat Exchanger: Finite Difference Modeling
In the news
[edit | edit source]- Better Heat Exchangers Using Garbage Bags - Science Daily, Locker Dome, R&D Magazine
- Garbage bags could make power plants more efficient - Mumbai Mirror (a daily circulation of approximate 700,000).
- Microchannel Heat Exchangers as an Advanced Alternative to Traditional HVAC Coils
| Authors | Joshua M. Pearce |
|---|---|
| License | CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Organizations | MOST, MTU |
| Cite as | Joshua M. Pearce (2012–2025). "Expanded microchannel heat exchanger". Appropedia. Retrieved June 4, 2026. |