A Design Tool for Microchannel Heat Exchangers

Microchannel heat exchangers have potentials to advance various thermal and chemical processes by extending operating range or improving system performance. In some applications such as a very high pressure system, diffusion-bonded microchannel heat exchangers are the only option available to endure such harsh condition.   

A design tool has been developed to facilitate optimal design of microchannel heat exchangers. Microchannel heat exchangers are designed and manufactured by chemical etching and diffusion bonding. Their cryogenic performance is investigated in a demo scale test facility. Empirical correlations derived from a set of experiments are embedded to the software.