CFD Analysis of Heat Transfer in Compact Heat Exchangers

Abstract

Compact heat exchangers (CHEs) are widely used in modern thermal systems due to their high heat transfer efficiency, compact size, and reduced material usage. They find applications in aerospace, automotive, power generation, chemical processing, and electronics cooling. With the growing demand for energy-efficient and lightweight systems, advanced designs such as plate-fin, microchannel, and printed circuit heat exchangers have gained attention. This study presents a CFD-based analysis of heat transfer and fluid flow in compact heat exchangers. Using the finite volume method and RANS turbulence models, the research evaluates key parameters such as temperature distribution, velocity fields, pressure drop, and thermal performance under varying operating conditions. Parametric studies examine the influence of Reynolds number, inlet temperature, flow arrangement, and surface enhancements. The results highlight the trade-off between heat transfer efficiency and pressure loss, emphasizing the importance of design optimization. Overall, the study demonstrates that CFD is a powerful tool for improving the performance of compact heat exchangers while reducing development cost and time.