Modelling a 2p-2p Plate Heat Exchanger

Would like to say that I'm super happy about plate heat exchangers being added into Simscape.

However, there doesn't seem to be support for 2p-2p plate exchanger, and I'm looking to get one working.

I understand that interfaces can allow me to connect it together, but it seems like both gas and thermal liquid interfaces don't allow me to monitor the change in phase across two refrigerants. Are there any ways that exist that allow me to use the plate heat exchanger block with 2p-2p?

Are there any plans to develop a 2p-2p plate simscape block?

Answer 1

[Yifeng Tang]

The best alternative is the System-Level Heat Exchanger (2P-2P) block.

The nominal condition should be quite easy to set up, but the default correlation coefficient may not work well enough for a plate heat exchanger. If you have some reference data, say heat flow at different flow rates and states of two refrigerants, you may use the Parameter Estimator App to find a good set of b & c coefficients.

I've done this before for Plate Heat Exchanger (TL-2P) against System-Level Heat Exchanger (TL-2P), and this method works pretty well. In case you don't have much reference data, you may try to put the geometry information into the plate heat exchanger (TL-2P), generate some reference data using simulation by varying boundary conditions and flow rates. Use the reference data to estimate the b & c coefficients. Use those coefficients on the 2P side for the System-Level Heat Exchanger (2P-2P) block.

Hope this makes sense.

[ALis]

Thanks for the response Yifeng!

Question for you then, so the selection of b and c coefficients is dependent on the fluids on both sides of the heat exchanger? If another refrigerant is used, how well do those b and c coefficients align?

[Yifeng Tang]

Hi ALis,

The honest answer is I don't know. I have no evidence or experience on whether, when a different refrigerant is used, the b & c coefficients would still work or not work. I would IMAGINE they would be better than the default values :p

We'll need some test data to find out I suppose.