An investigation of multistream plate-fin heat exchanger modelling and design: a review

Abstract In line with population expansion and industrial development, the world’s energy consumption has been rising gradually over the past three decades. As a result, methods for energy conservation have been sought. One of the most common strategies is heat recovery, which is efficient and cost-effective to the extent possible. Heat recovery is not just about saving energy for primary consumption; it is also about lowering emissions and protecting the environment. In this respect, one of the most important strategies for heat recovery is to develop heat exchangers and exploit the energy associated with many of the processes’ output products in order to use it in new processes. Many researchers working in the field of heat engineering are now looking into novel heat transfer techniques. Use of the heat exchanger as a compact is one of these ways that might be considered. The current review therefore concentrates on the design of plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHE) and multi-stream plate-fin heat exchangers (MSPFHE) based on various models. The current review offers some suggestions for upcoming studies on improving heat transfer and minimizing power use.