Review

Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review

Volume: 29 Number: 3 September 1, 2026
TR EN

Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review

Abstract

Increasing the demand for greater efficiency and sustainability in corrugated plate heat exchangers has driven comprehensive research to address the drawbacks of conventional designs. This review summarizes the latest developments in enhancing plate heat exchanger performance, with a focus on plate surface geometry and working-fluid effects. The most important geometric details for thermo-hydraulic properties, such as chevron angle, corrugation pattern, plate spacing, and corrugation depth and pitch, are systematically examined with respect to their thermo-hydraulic effects. The review also covers surface coatings, including potential contributions to fouling mitigation and pressure drop reduction, as well as persistent issues related to durability, health, and environmental impact, along with their associated costs. The review also discusses the application of nanofluids as working fluids, explaining that while they can improve heat transfer, they also entail drawbacks such as increased viscosity, pressure drop, and unknown long-term effects on plate integrity. In addition to designs and material strategies, the review focuses on how they incorporate sustainable and renewable energies into plate heat exchangers to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and their negative impact on the environment, as well as reducing operational costs. Also, cutting-edge data-driven techniques, including machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence, are presented as promising extensions to other CFD techniques to develop and enhance predictive models while reducing computational costs and time. Finally, several research gaps are identified, including insufficient attention to unsteady and oscillatory flow conditions, highlighting areas that require further investigation.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Ethical Statement

I testify on behalf of all co-authors that our article submitted followed ethical principles in publishing. Title: Recent and Future Techniques in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review All authors agree that: This research presents an accurate account of the work performed, all data presented are accurate and methodologies detailed enough to permit others to replicate the work. This manuscript represents entirely original works and or if work and/or words of others have been used, that this has been appropriately cited or quoted and permission has been obtained where necessary. This material has not been published in whole or in part elsewhere. The manuscript is not currently being considered for publication in another journal. That generative AI and AI-assisted technologies have not been utilized in the writing process or if used, disclosed in the manuscript the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies and a statement will appear in the published work. That generative AI and AI-assisted technologies have not been used to create or alter images unless specifically used as part of the research design where such use must be described in a reproducible manner in the methods section. All authors have been personally and actively involved in substantive work leading to the manuscript and will hold themselves jointly and individually responsible for its content.

Thanks

I would like to express my deepest appreciation to Department of Mechanical Engineering/University of Anbar

References

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  6. J. L. García-Castillo, J. A. Crespo-Quintanilla, and M. Picón-Núñez, “A novel design approach of plate heat exchangers considering the economic impact of chevron angles,” Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification, vol. 199, Jan. 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.cep.2024.109759.
  7. J. Ham, E. Kim, N. You, and H. Cho, “Comparison of thermal performance in solution heat exchangers with different chevron angles in absorption system,” Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 51, Jul. 2023, Art. no. 103598, doi: 10.1016/j.csite.2023.103598.
  8. K. Nilpueng, T. Keawkamrop, H. S. Ahn, and S. Wongwises, “Effect of chevron angle and surface roughness on thermal performance of single-phase water flow inside a plate heat exchanger,” International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, vol. 91, pp. 201–209, Jan. 2018, doi: 10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2017.12.009.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Energy Systems Engineering (Other)

Journal Section

Review

Publication Date

September 1, 2026

Submission Date

January 9, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 11, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 29 Number: 3

APA
Salih, M. K., & Jalil, S. (2026). Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review. International Journal of Thermodynamics, 29(3), 281-302. https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.1860171
AMA
1.Salih MK, Jalil S. Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review. International Journal of Thermodynamics. 2026;29(3):281-302. doi:10.5541/ijot.1860171
Chicago
Salih, Mustafa K., and Saad Jalil. 2026. “Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review”. International Journal of Thermodynamics 29 (3): 281-302. https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.1860171.
EndNote
Salih MK, Jalil S (September 1, 2026) Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review. International Journal of Thermodynamics 29 3 281–302.
IEEE
[1]M. K. Salih and S. Jalil, “Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review”, International Journal of Thermodynamics, vol. 29, no. 3, pp. 281–302, Sept. 2026, doi: 10.5541/ijot.1860171.
ISNAD
Salih, Mustafa K. - Jalil, Saad. “Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review”. International Journal of Thermodynamics 29/3 (September 1, 2026): 281-302. https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.1860171.
JAMA
1.Salih MK, Jalil S. Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review. International Journal of Thermodynamics. 2026;29:281–302.
MLA
Salih, Mustafa K., and Saad Jalil. “Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review”. International Journal of Thermodynamics, vol. 29, no. 3, Sept. 2026, pp. 281-02, doi:10.5541/ijot.1860171.
Vancouver
1.Mustafa K. Salih, Saad Jalil. Recent and Emerging Trends in Plate Heat Exchangers Performance Enhancement: A Review. International Journal of Thermodynamics. 2026 Sep. 1;29(3):281-302. doi:10.5541/ijot.1860171