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Authors Joshua M. Pearce
David C. Denkenberger
Michael J. Brandemuehl
John Zhai
Location Michigan, USA
Status Designed
Modelled
Prototyped
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Type Paper
Cite as Citation reference for the source document. David C. Denkenberger, Michael J. Brandemuehl, Joshua M. Pearce, and John Zhai, "Expanded microchannel heat exchanger: design, fabrication and preliminary experimental test", Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers – Part A: Journal of Power and Energy, 226, 532-544 (2012). DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0957650912442781 Full text open access

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.

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Part of MOST completed projects and publications
Keywords energy conservation, heat exchangers, microchannel heat exchanger, energy efficiency
SDG SDG09 Industry innovation and infrastructure
Authors Joshua M. Pearce
License CC-BY-SA-3.0
Organizations MOST, MTU
Language English (en)
Related 0 subpages, 15 pages link here
Aliases Expanded microchannel heat exchangers
Impact 660 page views
Created May 30, 2012 by Joshua M. Pearce
Modified January 29, 2024 by Felipe Schenone
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