Second law analysis of a crossflow heat exchanger equipped with constructal distributor/collector

In the present study, the experimental results of second law analysis on the heat transfer and hydraulic characteristics of a mini crossflow heat exchanger equipped with constructal distributor/collector are presented. In the experiments, hot and cold water are used as working fluids. Tests are performed for various "distributor-heat-exchanger-collector" configurations at channel Reynolds numbers in the heat exchanger between 800 and 3100. The integration of constructal component on the thermal performance, entropy generation, exergy loss, and the second law effectiveness of the heat exchanger is discussed. The relationship between heat-transfer intensification and system-irreversibility production in this case is also analysed and discussed.

Keywords: heat transfer intensification, pressure drop, thermal performance, entropy generation, exergy loss, second law analysis, constructal components, distributors, collectors, crossflow heat exchangers, hydraulics, irreversibilities