modelDynamicWaterWaterExchanger

Dynamic plate heat exchanger
Diagram of DynamicWaterWaterExchanger

Information

## Copyright © EDF 2002 - 2026  
## ThermoSysPro Version 4.2  
This component model is documented in Sect. 9.6.1 of the ThermoSysPro book.   
# Dynamic water water exchanger   
   
The plate heat exchanger is composed of thousand sheets separated from each other by a small space where fluids flow. The plates exhibit a wavy surface to create a turbulent flow that generates better heat transfers. This type of exchanger is widely used in the food industry as it can easily be taken apart for cleanup.  

This model represents a single-phase counter-flow thermal exchange between the hot fluid and the cold fluid. The two fluids are separated by a wall through which heat transfer takes place by conduction. Convection transfers the heat between each fluid and the wall.  

Following assumptions are made:  
- the flow in each mesh cell is single-phase.  
- the energy accumulation in the wall is neglected.  
- the phenomenon of longitudinal heat conduction in the wall and in the fluid is neglected.  
- the pressure and specific enthalpy are assumed constant in each mesh cell.  

For a steady-state plate heat exchanger, see [static water water exchanger](modelica://ThermoSysPro.WaterSteam.HeatExchangers.StaticWaterWaterExchanger).  

## Modelica component model  

The equations mentioned below are implemented in the component *DynamicWaterWaterExchanger*, located in the *WaterSteam.HeatExchangers* sub-library.   
   
![modelica://ThermoSysPro/UsersGuide/Documentation/ThermoSysPro.WaterSteam.HeatExchangers.DynamicWaterWaterExchanger.svg](modelica://ThermoSysPro/UsersGuide/Documentation/ThermoSysPro.WaterSteam.HeatExchangers.DynamicWaterWaterExchanger.svg)  

## Nomenclature  

| Symbol| Description| Unit| Definition| Modelica name |  
| :-------------------------------- | :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------------- | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | :----------- |  
| \\(c\_{p, c, i}\\)| Cold fluid specific heat in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{K}\\)|| prof[i].cp |  
| \\(c\_{p, \mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid specific heat in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{K}\\)|| proc[i].cp |  
| \\(D\_{\mathrm{h}}\\)| Hydraulic diameter| \\(\mathrm{m}\\)|| - |  
| \\(e\_{\mathrm{m}}\\)| Wall thickness| \\(\mathrm{m}\\)|| emetal |  
| \\(h\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Cold fluid specific enthalpy in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg}\\)|| Hmf[i] |  
| \\(h\_{\mathrm{c}, i: i+1}\\)| Cold fluid specific enthalpy in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg}\\)|| Hcf[i] |  
| \\(h\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid specific enthalpy in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg}\\)|| Hmc[i] |  
| \\(h\_{\mathrm{h}, i: i+1}\\)| Hot fluid specific enthalpy in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{J} / \mathrm{kg}\\)|| Hcc[i] |  
| \\(K\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Convective heat exchange coefficient for the cold fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} / \mathrm{K}\\) || hf[i] |  
| \\(K\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Convective heat exchange coefficient for the hot fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} / \mathrm{K}\\) || hc[i] |  
| \\(m\_{\mathrm{c}, i: i+1}\\)| Cold fluid mass flow rate in hydraulic cell \\(i:\\) \\(i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{s}\\)|| Qcf[i] |  
| \\(m\_{\mathrm{h}, i: i+1}\\)| Hot fluid mass flow rate in hydraulic cell \\(i:\\) \\(i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{s}\\)|| Qcc[i] |  
| \\(N\\)| Number of hydraulic cells| \\(-\\)|| N + 1 |  
| \\(N\_{\mathrm{c}}\\)| Number of channels of each fluid| \\(-\\)| \\(\left\(N\_{\mathrm{p}}-1\right\) / 2\\)| - |  
| \\(N\_{\mathrm{p}}\\)| Number of plates| \\(-\\)|| nbp |  
| \\(P\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Cold fluid pressure at the outlet of thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa}\\)|| Pcf[i + 1] |  
| \\(P\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid pressure at the outlet of thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa}\\)|| Pcc[i + 1] |  
| \\(P r\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Prandtl number of the cold fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(-\\)| \\(\frac{\mu\_{\mathrm{c}, i} \cdot c\_{p, \mathrm{c}, i}}{\lambda\_{\mathrm{c}, i}}\\)| - |  
| \\(P r\_{h, i}\\)| Prandtl number of the hot fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(-\\)| \\(\frac{\mu\_{\mathrm{h}, i} \cdot c\_{p, \mathrm{h}, i}}{\lambda\_{\mathrm{h}, i}}\\)| - |  
| \\(R e\_{c, i:i+1}\\)| Reynolds number of the cold fluid in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(-\\)| \\(\frac{4 \cdot m\_{\mathrm{c}, i: i+1}}{\pi \cdot D\_{\mathrm{h}} \cdot \mu\_{\mathrm{c}, i} \cdot N\_{\mathrm{c}}}\\)| - |  
| \\(R e\_{\mathrm{h}, i: i+1}\\)| Reynolds number of the hot fluid in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(-\\)| \\(\frac{4 \cdot \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i: i+1}}{\pi \cdot D\_{\mathrm{h}} \cdot \mu\_{\mathrm{h}, i} \cdot N\_{\mathrm{c}}}\\) | - |  
| \\(S\_{\mathrm{p}}\\)| Plate area| \\(\mathrm{m}^{2}\\)|| Sp |  
| \\(T\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Temperature of the cold fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{K}\\)|| Tmf[i] |  
| \\(T\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Temperature of the hot fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{K}\\)|| Tmc[i] |  
| \\(T\_{\mathrm{w}, \mathrm{c}, i}\\) | Wall temperature of for cold fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{K}\\)|| Tmf[i] |  
| \\(T\_{\mathrm{w}, \mathrm{h}, i}\\) | Wall temperature for the hot fluid in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{K}\\)|| Tmc[i] |  
| \\(U\_{i}\\)| Global heat transfer coefficient for thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m}^{2} / \mathrm{K}\\) || K[i] |  
| \\(V\_{\mathrm{c}}\\)| Cold fluid volume| \\(\mathrm{m}^{3}\\)|| Vf |  
| \\(V\_{\mathrm{h}}\\)| Hot fluid volume| \\(\mathrm{m}^{3}\\)|| Vc |  
| \\(\Delta A\_{i}\\)| Heat exchange surface for thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{m}^{2}\\)| \\(\frac{s\_{\mathrm{p}} \cdot\left\(N\_{\mathrm{p}}-2\right\)}{N-1}\\)| dS |  
| \\(\Delta W\_{i}\\)| Thermal power released by the hot fluid to the cold fluid for thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W}\\)|| dW[i] |  
| \\(\lambda\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Cold fluid thermal conductivity in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{K}\\)|| lambdaf[i] |  
| \\(\lambda\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid thermal conductivity in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{K}\\)|| lambdac[i] |  
| \\(\lambda\_{\mathrm{m}}\\)| Metal thermal conductivity| \\(\mathrm{W} / \mathrm{m} / \mathrm{K}\\)|| lambdam |  
| \\(\Lambda\_{\mathrm{c}}\\)| Friction pressure loss coefficient of the entire length of the exchanger for the cold fluid | \\(\mathrm{m}^{-4}\\)|| p_Kf |  
| \\(\Lambda\_{\mathrm{h}}\\)| Friction pressure loss coefficient of the entire length of the exchanger for the hot fluid| \\(\mathrm{m}^{-4}\\)|| p_Kc |  
| \\(\mu\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Cold fluid dynamic viscosity in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa} \mathrm{s}\\)|| muf[i] |  
| \\(\mu\_{\mathrm{c}, i: i+1}\\)| Cold fluid dynamic viscosity in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa} \mathrm{s}\\)|| muf[i] |  
| \\(\mu\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid dynamic viscosity in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa} \mathrm{s}\\)|| muc[i] |  
| \\(\mu\_{\mathrm{h}, i: i+1}\\)| Hot fluid dynamic viscosity in hydraulic cell \\(i: i+1\\)| \\(\mathrm{Pa} \mathrm{s}\\)|| muc[i] |  
| \\(\rho\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)| Cold fluid density in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\\)|| rhof[i] |  
| \\(\rho\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\)| Hot fluid density in thermal cell \\(i\\)| \\(\mathrm{kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\\)|| rhoc[i] |  


## Governing equations  

The following set of equations must be completed by the state equations for the following water and steam properties \\(c\_{p, c}, c\_{p, h}, \rho\_{c}, \rho\_{h}, \mu\_{c}, \mu\_{h}, \lambda\_{c}\\) and \\(\lambda\_{h}\\).  

### Steady-state mass balance equation (hot fluid)  


- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i-1:i}-\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1}=0$$  

- Comments:   
   

### Steady-state mass balance equation (cold fluid)  


    
    

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i-1:i}-\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1}=0$$   

- Comments:   
   



### Dynamic energy balance equation (hot fluid)  


    
    

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$\frac{V\_{\mathrm{h}}}{N-1} \cdot \rho\_{\mathrm{h}, i} \cdot \frac{\mathrm{d} h\_{\mathrm{h}, i}}{\mathrm{d} t}=\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i-1:i} \cdot h\_{\mathrm{h}, i-1:i}-\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1} \cdot h\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1}-\Delta W\_{i}$$  

- Comments:   
   
 The fluid is assumed to be incompressible.  


### Dynamic energy balance equation (cold fluid)  


    
    

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{c, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$\frac{V\_{\mathrm{c}}}{N-1} \cdot \rho\_{\mathrm{c}, i} \cdot \frac{\mathrm{d} h\_{\mathrm{c}, i}}{\mathrm{d} t}=\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i-1:i} \cdot h\_{\mathrm{c}, i-1:i}-\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1} \cdot h\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1}+\Delta W\_{i}$$  

- Comments:   
   
 The fluid is assumed to be incompressible.  







    
    

### Heat exchanged between the hot and cold fluids  

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall T\_{\mathrm{h}, i}\\) and \\(\forall T\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$\Delta W\_{i}=U\_{i} \cdot \Delta A\_{i} \cdot\left\(T\_{\mathrm{h}, i}-T\_{\mathrm{c}, i}\right\)$$  

- Comments:   
   
 The global heat transfer coefficient \\(U\_{i}\\) between the two fluids is given by \\(\frac{1}{U\_{i}}=\frac{1}{K\_{\mathrm{h}, i}}+\frac{1}{\lambda\_{\mathrm{m}}}+\frac{1}{K\_{\mathrm{c}, i}}\\).   
    

### Momentum balance equation (hot fluid)  

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$P\_{\mathrm{h}, i+1} = P\_{\mathrm{h}, i}-\frac{\Lambda\_{\mathrm{h}}}{N} \cdot \frac{\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1} \cdot \lvert \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{h}, i:i+1} \rvert}{N\_{\mathrm{c}}^{2} \cdot \rho\_{\mathrm{h}, i}}$$  

- Comments:   
   
 Only pressure losses due to friction are taken into account. The friction coefficient \\(\Lambda\_{\mathrm{h}}\\) can be directly provided by the user or computed using a correlation.  


### Momentum balance equation (cold fluid)  


    
    

- Validity domain:   
   
 \\(\forall \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1}\\)  

- Mathematical formulation:   
   
 $$P\_{\mathrm{c}, i+1}=P\_{\mathrm{c}, i}-\frac{\Lambda\_{\mathrm{c}}}{N} \cdot \frac{\dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1} \cdot \lvert \dot{m}\_{\mathrm{c}, i:i+1} \rvert}{N\_{\mathrm{c}}^{2} \cdot \rho\_{\mathrm{c}, i}}$$  

- Comments:   
   
 Only pressure losses due to friction are taken into account. The friction coefficient \\(\Lambda\_{\mathrm{c}}\\) can be directly provided by the user or computed using a correlation.  


## References   
   
El Hefni, Baligh and Bouskela, Daniel (2019). [Modeling and Simulation of Thermal Power Plants with ThermoSysPro](https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-05105-1), sect. 9.6.1. Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Parameters

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Units.SI.ThermalConductivitylambdam15.0Metal thermal conductivity
Units.SI.CoefficientOfHeatTransferp_hc6000Heat transfer coefficient for the hot side if not computed by the correlations
Units.SI.CoefficientOfHeatTransferp_hf3000Heat transfer coefficient for the cold side if not computed by the correlations
Realp_Kc100Pressure loss coefficient for the hot side if not computed by the correlations
Realp_Kf100Pressure loss coefficient for the cold side if not computed by the correlations
Units.SI.VolumeVc1Hot side volume
Units.SI.VolumeVf1Cold side volume
Units.SI.Thicknessemetal0.0006Wall thickness
Units.SI.AreaSp2Plate area
Realnbp499Number of plates
Realc11.12647Correction coefficient
IntegerN10Number of segments
Booleansteady_statetruetrue: start from steady state
Units.SI.Densityp_rhoc0If > 0, fixed fluid density for the hot fluid
Units.SI.Densityp_rhof0If > 0, fixed fluid density for the cold fluid
Integermodec0IF97 region for the hot fluid. 1:liquid - 2:steam - 4:saturation line - 0:automatic
Integermodef0IF97 region for the cold fluid. 1:liquid - 2:steam - 4:saturation line - 0:automatic
Integerheat_exchange_correlation1Correlation for the computation of the heat exchange coefficient - 0: no correlation. 1: SRI correlations
Integerpressure_loss_correlation1Correlation for the computation of the pressure loss coefficient - 0: no correlation. 1: SRI correlations

Connectors

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Connectors.FluidInletEc
Connectors.FluidInletEf
Connectors.FluidOutletSf
Connectors.FluidOutletSc

Components

TypeNameDefaultDescription
Units.SI.Power[N]dWThermal power exchanged between the two sides
ThermoSysPro.Units.SI.PressureDifference[N]DPcPressure loss of the hot fluid
ThermoSysPro.Units.SI.PressureDifference[N]DPfPressure loss of the cold fluid
Units.SI.CoefficientOfHeatTransfer[N]hcHeat transfer coefficient of the hot fluid
Units.SI.CoefficientOfHeatTransfer[N]hfHeat transfer coefficient of the cold fluid
Units.SI.CoefficientOfHeatTransfer[N]KGlobal heat transfer coefficient
Units.SI.AreadSHeat exchange surface
Units.SI.TemperatureTecFluid temperature at the hot inlet
Units.SI.TemperatureTscFluid temperature at the hot outlet
Units.SI.TemperatureTefFluid temperature at the cold inlet
Units.SI.TemperatureTsfFluid temperature at the cold outlet
Units.SI.AbsolutePressure[N + 1]PccHot fluid pressure at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.MassFlowRate[N + 1]QccHot fluid mass flow rate at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.SpecificEnthalpy[N + 1]HccHot fluid specific enthalpy at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.AbsolutePressure[N + 1]PcfCold fluid pressure at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.MassFlowRate[N + 1]QcfCold fluid mass flow rate at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.SpecificEnthalpy[N + 1]HcfCold fluid specific enthalpy at the boundary of section i
Units.SI.MassFlowRate[N]QcMass flow rate of the hot fluid
Units.SI.MassFlowRate[N]QfMass flow rate of the cold fluid
Real[N]qmc
Real[N]qmf
Real[N]quc
Real[N]quf
RealM
Units.SI.Density[N]rhocHot fluid density
Units.SI.Density[N]rhofCold fluid density
Units.SI.DynamicViscosity[N]mucHot fluid dynamic viscosity
Units.SI.DynamicViscosity[N]mufCold fluid dynamic viscosity
Units.SI.ThermalConductivity[N]lambdacHot fluid thermal conductivity
Units.SI.ThermalConductivity[N]lambdafCold fluid thermal conductivity
Units.SI.Temperature[N]TmcHot fluid average temperature
Units.SI.Temperature[N]TmfCold fluid average temperature
Units.SI.AbsolutePressure[N]PmcHot fluid average pressure
Units.SI.AbsolutePressure[N]PmfCold fluid average pressure
Units.SI.SpecificEnthalpy[N]HmcHot fluid average specific enthalpy
Units.SI.SpecificEnthalpy[N]HmfCold fluid average specific enthalpy
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_ph[N]procPropriétés du fluide chaud
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_ph[N]profPropriétés du fluide froid
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_phprocePropriétés du fluide chaud en entrée
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_phprocsPropriétés du fluide chaud en sortie
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_phprofePropriétés du fluide froid en entrée
ThermoSysPro.Properties.WaterSteam.Common.ThermoProperties_phprofsPropriétés du fluide froid en sortie

Revisions

Author  

Daniel Bouskela