Particle image velocimetry experimental investigation of header configuration on flow maldistribution in plate-fin heat exchanger

Flow characteristics of flow field in the header of a plate-fin heat exchanger were investigated with particle image velocimetry (PIV). It is found that the fluid flow maldistribution is very serious for conventional header while the improved header configuration with punched baffle can effectively improve the performance. When the punched baffle is proper in length, the small holes are in staggered arrangement and the punched ratio gradually increases from the central axis to the boundary along the baffle length, the performance of flow distribution in the plate-fin heat exchanger is effectively improved by the optimum design of header configuration. The flow maldistribution parameter S decreases from 1.210 to 0.209 and the ratio of the maximum velocity to the minimum decreases from 23.163 to 1.756.