Evaluation of Irreversibility and Optimal Design of an Integrated System of Multiflow Heat Exchange

Abstract

An algorithm was proposed to synthesize the structure and distribution of surfaces in a heat-exchange system in the case where the water equivalents and inlet temperatures of hot and cold flows are fixed; the outlet temperatures of cold flows are also given. The algorithm takes into account the possibility of a change in the phase state of contacting flows. The minimum dissipation at a given total heat load corresponds to the minimum total contact area, which closely correlates with the cost of the heat-exchange system.