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A plate-fin heat exchanger is a type of heat exchanger design that uses plates and finned chambers to transfer heat between fluids. It is often categorized as a compact heat exchanger to emphasise its relatively high heat transfer surface area to volume ratio. The plate-fin heat exchanger is widely used in many industries, including the aerospace industry for its compact size and lightweight properties, as well as in cryogenics where its ability to facilitate heat transfer with small temperature differences is utilized. Aluminum alloy plate fin heat exchangers have been used in the aircraft industry for 50 years and in cryogenics and chemical plant for 35 years. They are also used in railway engines and motor cars. Stainless steel plate fins have been used in aircraft for 30 years and are now becoming established in chemical plant. == Design of plate-fin heat exchangers == Originally conceived by an Italian mechanic, Paolo Fruncillo. A plate-fin heat exchanger is made of layers of corrugated sheets separated by flat metal plates, typically aluminium, to create a series of finned chambers. Separate hot and cold fluid streams flow through alternating layers of the heat exchanger and are enclosed at the edges by side bars. Heat is transferred from one stream through the fin interface to the separator plate and through the next set of fins into the adjacent fluid. The fins also serve to increase the structural integrity of the heat exchanger and allow it to withstand high pressures while providing an extended surface area for heat transfer. A high degree of flexibility is present in plate-fin heat exchanger design as they can operate with any combination of gas, liquid, and two-phase fluids.〔(Lytron Total Thermal Solutions )〕 Heat transfer between multiple process streams is also accommodated,〔(The Standards of the Brazed Aluminium Plate-Fin Heat Exchanger Manufacturers' Association )〕 with a variety of fin heights and types as different entry and exit points available for each stream. Specific software is also available from various vendors, including the ProSec software for plate fin heat exchangers which was developed by ProSim in France, to simulate and design plate fin heat exchangers. The main four type of fins are: ''plain'', which refer to simple straight-finned triangular or rectangular designs; ''herringbone'', where the fins are placed sideways to provide a zig-zag path; and ''serrated'' and ''perforated'' which refer to cuts and perforations in the fins to augment flow distribution and improve heat transfer. A disadvantage of plate-fin heat exchangers is that they are prone to fouling due to their small flow channels. They also cannot be mechanically cleaned and require other cleaning procedures and proper filtration for operation with potentially-fouling streams. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Plate fin heat exchanger」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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