Simple Models for Dynamics and Control of Heat exchangers

Simple, finite order, compartmental models for dynamics and control of heat exchangers are presented. This paper shows how a fourth order model can predict the transient response of a heat exchanger as well as the exact infinite order solution can. The results of this model are compared with the exact solution in frequency domain, and with experimental data in a time domain for both parallel flow and counter flow heat exchangers. This comparison concludes that higher order systems can be represented by low order models very accurately.