Modélisation d'un échangeur de chaleur compact à courants croisés séparés par des couches de matériau à changement de phase

A mathematical model was developed to predict the thermal behaviour of a crossflow compact heat exchanger with layers of phase change material (PCM) operating under winter conditions. The model is validated and a parametric study is conducted to determine the design and operating conditions that promote condensation and may lead eventually to the frosting of the exchanger. The transient and steady-state thermal efficiency of the exchanger are also predicted as a function of the number of thermal units NTU_f, of the ratio of the products of the mass flow rate by the heat capacity on the cold and hot sides C and of the Biot number Bi. Results indicate that for Bi = 0.6 (which corresponds to a 3 mm thick PCM layer), condensation occurs when NTU_f ≥ 2.0 for C = 1.0 and when NTU_f ≥ 5.0 for C = 0.5. If the thickness of the PCM layer increases, condensation is avoided and the duration of the heat recovery period is prolonged. At the same time however, the steady state thermal efficiency diminishes. A heat exchanger for which Bi = 0.6, C = 0.5 and NTU_f = 4.0 appears to be a good compromise for acceptable heat recovery and efficiency. In this case, the heat recovery period lasts 1.6 h and the steady state thermal efficiency levels off at 64 %.