Experimental Study on the Heat Transfer Characteristics of Cryogenic Micro Channel Heat Exchanger

In recent years, many researchers investigated micro channel heat exchangers because of its high efficiency and compactness. However, few experimental studies about micro channel heat exchanger in cryogenic environment have been conducted. In this study, micro channel was fabricated by chemical etching and heat exchanger core was made by diffusion bonding method for cryogenic reliability. Performance test was conducted in cryogenic test rig. Working fluids are liquid nitrogen and methane gas. Methane gas was condensed in the micro channel heat exchanger. Heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop were measured and the heat transfer characteristics were investigated. These results can be used to design the heat exchanger of gas liquefaction plant.