Heat transfer of humid-air flow in a compact heat exchanger with plate ribbing

An computational study of heat transfer in a compact heat exchanger is reported, performed with regard for the heat and mass transfer of the humid-air flow in the cold and hot circulation circuits of the heat exchanger. The computational study was performed using a homogeneous, two-dimensional theoretical model of heat transfer in a cross-flow compact heat exchanger with plate ribbing. In the model, the heat and mass transfer in the cold and hot flows, and also the heat transfer over the initial lengths of the channels, were taken into account. The model was validated by comparing the predicted data with experimental values. As a result of the study, main factors have been identified providing for enhanced heat transfer in the heat exchanger. The temperature fields on the heat-exchanging surface and in the heat-transfer medium in various operating regimes of the heat exchanger were examined.