The structural characteristics of aluminum plate fin heat exchangers are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1. Core component composition
The aluminum plate fin heat exchanger is mainly composed of a core, a head, connecting pipes, supporting components, and other parts. Among them, the core is the core of the heat exchanger for heat exchange, consisting of fins, seals, and partitions arranged closely together.
2. Fin and partition structure
Fin design: As an extended secondary heat transfer surface, the unique design of fins (such as straight, serrated, corrugated, porous, and louvered) can increase the heat transfer area and improve heat transfer efficiency. The fins are sealed with seals on both sides to form a basic heat exchange channel.
Partition and fin combination: Place fins between every two partitions, and weld the fins, seals, and partitions together through vacuum brazing technology to form a complete core structure. This structure enables heat to be transferred simultaneously on both the primary heat transfer surface (partition) and the secondary heat transfer surface (fins).
3. Heat transfer mechanism
Combination of heat conduction and convective heat transfer: The heat transfer process is mainly completed through fin heat conduction and convective heat transfer between fins and fluid. The structure of fins can cause disturbance to the fluid, causing the thermal boundary layer to continuously rupture and renew, thereby enhancing the convective heat release coefficient of the fluid and improving heat transfer efficiency.
High thermal conductivity material: Aluminum material has excellent thermal conductivity and can quickly transfer heat to the medium, further improving heat transfer speed.
4. Compact structure and light weight
Large heat transfer area per unit volume: The heat transfer area per unit volume of aluminum plate fin heat exchangers is generally 1500-2500m ²/m ³, which is equivalent to 8-20 times that of shell and tube heat exchangers. This makes the heat exchanger smaller and more compact in size under the same heat transfer requirements.
Lightweight: Due to the use of lightweight materials (such as aluminum) and compact structural design, the overall weight of the heat exchanger is relatively light, making it easy to install and transport.
5. Strong adaptability and high pressure bearing capacity
Wide applicability: Aluminum plate fin heat exchangers can be applied to heat transfer of different media such as gas gas, gas-liquid, liquid-liquid, as well as various heat transfer conditions (such as counterflow, cross flow, multi stream flow, etc.). Meanwhile, it can also adapt to a wide temperature range (-270 ℃~+200 ℃).
Strong pressure bearing capacity: Due to the use of brazing technology to tightly weld fins and baffles together, the heat exchanger has a high pressure bearing capacity. Some large plate fin heat exchangers can withstand pressures up to 8MPa.
In summary, the structural characteristics of aluminum plate fin heat exchangers make them an efficient, compact, lightweight, and adaptable heat exchange device, with a wide range of applications in multiple fields.