plate heat exchanger

[amith014]

hi all,

I am doing FE analysis of plate heat exchanger.

This contains heat plates, header frame, follower frame and main supporting frame and studs.

I have modelled all the parts but the number of elements are coming very high due which i cannot solve.

This heat exchanger contains 350 heat plates. My question is, IS it necessary to consider all the 350 heat plates.

If i consider only 100 plates for fe analysis, will there be any affect in fe analysis.

Since am not interested in the heat plates, area of interest are header plate and follower plate and bolts.

Is there any otherway of modelling heat plates?

please help.

 

[corus]

Use symmetry to reduce the model size or assume that the heat flow is negligible far enough away from the area fo interest.

corus