Heat transfer enhancement in honeycomb elements

In recent years, honeycomb elements made of ceramics have often been used for such purposes as heat exchangers, catalysts and adsorbents. Because such honeycomb elements have a smooth flow path surface, laminar flow prevails at or near the design point (Re = 1000-4 000), thereby leading to frequent cases of insufficient heat transfer coefficient. However, there have been quite few studies on the heat transfer enhancement in honeycomb elements. In the present research, experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of spacing and lateral shifting of elements on heat transfer coefficient using honeycomb elements of ceramics 6.07mm width of opening and 1.13mm in wall thickness, and enhancements in heat transfer by these effects were clarified. It was found that lateral shifting of elements was more effective in making the flow more turbulent to enhance the heat transfer than spacing of elements.