Desenvolvimento de um algoritmo computacional para dimensionamento de trocadores de calor

Abstract

Heat exchangers are equipment widely used in various applications, especially in industries, and are of great relevance when energy efficiency is desired in a process. In this scenario, the objective of the present work is the development of an algorithm for the sizing, selection and evaluation of these equipments. The algorithm called TCALOR_CALC was developed from the theoretical basis and the equations presented in the work. Three types of heat exchangers are implemented: double-pipe heat exchanger, corrugated plate heat exchanger and shell and tube heat exchanger. The software used to build the algorithm was MATLAB. Results were generated by the algorithm for each type of exchanger, which were compared with results from reference works, in order to assess the reliability of the calculations made by the code. Therefore, the results obtained were reliable and consistent, thus validating the algorithm, which is presented as a tool to assist and streamline the design and evaluation of heat exchangers.