Non‐Newtonian Heat Transfer on a Plate Heat Exchanger with Generalized Configurations

Abstract

Abstract For the configuration optimization of plate heat exchangers (PHEs), the mathematical models for heat transfer and pressure drop must be valid for a wide range of operational conditions of all configurations of the exchanger or the design results may be compromised. In this investigation, the thermal model of a PHE is adjusted to fit experimental data obtained from non‐Newtonian heat transfer for eight different configurations, using carboxymethylcellulose solutions (CMC) as test fluid. Although it is possible to successfully adjust the model parameters, Newtonian and non‐Newtonian heat transfer cannot be represented by a single generalized correlation. In addition, the specific heat, thermal conductivity and power‐law rheological parameters of CMC solutions were correlated with temperature, over a range compatible with a continuous pasteurization process.