Channel Velocity of Plate Heat Exchangers

[takiyasamsama]

Hi,

I tried searching for equation or formula on how to obtain the channel velocity between the plate gaps of plate heat exchanger. So many equation I found from dividing mass flow rates into number of plate gaps then divide that by area and then there's where mass flow divide by density*number of gaps*gap area; just to name a few but the value seems irrelevant and incorrect.

Perhaps any of you stumbled upon the equation and formula and kind enough to share I would appreciate it a lot. I know this isn't rocket science but somehow I'm stuck at this point. Thank you very much in advance!

 

[Caloooomi]

Why is it irrelevant or incorrect? I'm assuming you are meaning a plate and frame heat exchanger...

Channel mass velocity = mass flow rate / (channels per pass * plate spacing * plate width inside gasket)

You can't work out the Re number without the plate information however, as you need the equivalent diameter and "area enlargement factor, φ, defined as the ratio between the effective plate area and projected plate area". Grabbed that quote from a paper.

 

[takiyasamsama]

Well technically its a plate and shell so the only difference here is the geometry of the plates, PHE is a rectangular and uniform shape while plate and shell is a circular corrugated plates.

Perhaps the calculation have some correction factor in determining the channel velocity but yeah I did tried the formula you have given in your replies and I did not get the same as what the supplier calculates. When ask which formula they use, they kept quiet that is why I had to find out by myself.

Correct me if I'm wrong but the mass flow rate had to be the mass flow rate for each channel right? Let say the number of plates is 676 then I got to divide the mass flow by 676 - 1 right? Only then I can find the mass velocity right? I tried this method but still didn't have the exact match as the suppliers value.