Experimental Validation of Thermal performance of Compact Heat Exchanger

ABSTRACT Today’s competitive industrial market puts aggressive demands on compressor for flow rate, pressure ratio and efficiency. One of the key factor that plays significant role in compressor performance is effectiveness of inter-stage heat exchanger. Highly effective heat exchanger with strict control on space and cost is today’s need. Quick, accurate as well as optimum performance prediction of heat exchanger is critical for overall design of compressor. Various analytical methods can quickly predict thermal performance but on conservative side. No design cycle is complete without experimental validation of result. This paper describes analytical calculation methodology of plate fin type compact heat exchanger based on Kern’s method.Results of analytical calculations are validated by experimental measurements carried out on heat exchanger of air compressor system.