Experimental study on outlet temperature distribution in plate-fin heat exchangers under secondary header configuration

Based on our study on the flow maldistribution in a plate-fin heat exchanger, the exit temperature distribution in the heat exchanger under the secondary header configuration was experimentally studied. The results show that the temperature change of the heat exchanger is consistent with flow pattern and the maldistribution is more and more severe with the increase of Re values. In addition, larger temperature difference of heat transfer can enlarge the maldistribution of the temperature. By comparing the temperature distributions in the heat exchanger between the header construction with the secondary header and the traditional header configuration, it is found that the temperature distribution with the secondary header is obviously improved, and the improvement is more efficient under higher Re values. The efficiency of the heat exchanger can been improved by about 7%.