Optimization of Process Parameters of the Plate Heat Exchanger

Abstract

The aim of this study is to determine the importance of the operational factors affecting the recovery performance in air-to-air heat recovery application where heat exchanger is used. The Taguchi experimental design method has been applied to show the effects of the factors and obtain the optimum process parameter combination. Thermal effectiveness has been determined as a performance characteristic. Experiments have been carried out at varying air flow rate, fresh and exhaust air inlet temperatures. Taguchi's L9(33) standard orthogonal array has been chosen as an experimental plan. The significance level of the control factors has been obtained by using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results show that air flow rate is the most significant factor among the three factors that influences the thermal effectiveness. The results prove that Taguchi method is an easily applicable optimization tool for heat recovery systems.