Experimental investigation of flow and heat transfer in a primary surface recuperator

An experimental study of flow and heat transfer characteristics of a CW primary surface recuperator for a 100 kW microturbine is implemented. The influence of gas mass flow rate, gas inlet temperature and air inlet pressure on heat transfer and pressure drop performance is investigated by measuring the temperature and pressure in the inlet and outlet, it is found that the fluid distribution is uniform in a CW primary surface recuperator, the heat transfer effectiveness is improved and the air and gas pressure drops are decreased in different degrees. The correlations of Nusselt numbers and friction factors vs. Reynolds numbers are obtained, the result can be referenced for the design and manufacture of the CW primary surface recuperators.