A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers

In this study, a mathematical modeling study combined with experimental part of a heat pipe heat exchanger (THEX) was performed. Then, the rotary type regenerative heat exchanger (RHEX), which is widely used in heat recovery applications, is also analytically modeled. Using these models confirmed by...

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Main Authors: Koray Özdemi̇r, Elif Öğüt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005349
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author Koray Özdemi̇r
Elif Öğüt
author_facet Koray Özdemi̇r
Elif Öğüt
author_sort Koray Özdemi̇r
collection DOAJ
description In this study, a mathematical modeling study combined with experimental part of a heat pipe heat exchanger (THEX) was performed. Then, the rotary type regenerative heat exchanger (RHEX), which is widely used in heat recovery applications, is also analytically modeled. Using these models confirmed by experimental data from literature, a regenerative heat exchanger design with the same volume as the heat pipe heat exchanger has been designed. Using proposed designs, heat pipe heat exchanger and rotary type regenerative heat exchanger with the same mass flowrates and air inlet temperatures were compared in terms of air outlet temperatures, total effectiveness value, total fan power requirements, mass and material cost. In this context, effects of hot stream inlet velocity were investigated. Under the same operating conditions, the total effectiveness value of THEX is found to be 24.7 % higher than RHEX, the total fan power requirement at RHEX is approximately 45 times higher than THEX, the total mass of RHEX is approximately 16 times higher than THEX. In addition, RHEX total material cost is approximately 4 times higher than THEX. In general, the heat pipe heat exchanger stands out in terms of effectiveness, total fan power requirement, and cost for heat recovery applications.
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spelling doaj-art-620d89f9f73844778068a6f1179e73cb2025-08-20T03:09:12ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-08-017210627410.1016/j.csite.2025.106274A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangersKoray Özdemi̇r0Elif Öğüt1Kocaeli University, Institute of Science and Technology, Kocaeli, TurkeyKocaeli University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Kocaeli, TurkeyIn this study, a mathematical modeling study combined with experimental part of a heat pipe heat exchanger (THEX) was performed. Then, the rotary type regenerative heat exchanger (RHEX), which is widely used in heat recovery applications, is also analytically modeled. Using these models confirmed by experimental data from literature, a regenerative heat exchanger design with the same volume as the heat pipe heat exchanger has been designed. Using proposed designs, heat pipe heat exchanger and rotary type regenerative heat exchanger with the same mass flowrates and air inlet temperatures were compared in terms of air outlet temperatures, total effectiveness value, total fan power requirements, mass and material cost. In this context, effects of hot stream inlet velocity were investigated. Under the same operating conditions, the total effectiveness value of THEX is found to be 24.7 % higher than RHEX, the total fan power requirement at RHEX is approximately 45 times higher than THEX, the total mass of RHEX is approximately 16 times higher than THEX. In addition, RHEX total material cost is approximately 4 times higher than THEX. In general, the heat pipe heat exchanger stands out in terms of effectiveness, total fan power requirement, and cost for heat recovery applications.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005349Heat pipe heat exchangerRotary type regenerative heat exchangerHeat recoveryMathematical modelingHeat pipe experiment
spellingShingle Koray Özdemi̇r
Elif Öğüt
A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Heat pipe heat exchanger
Rotary type regenerative heat exchanger
Heat recovery
Mathematical modeling
Heat pipe experiment
title A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
title_full A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
title_fullStr A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
title_full_unstemmed A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
title_short A comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
title_sort comparative analysis of heat pipe and rotary regenerative heat exchangers
topic Heat pipe heat exchanger
Rotary type regenerative heat exchanger
Heat recovery
Mathematical modeling
Heat pipe experiment
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25005349
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