New correlations for wavy plate-fin heat exchangers: different working fluids

Author(s):  
Morteza Khoshvaght Aliabadi ◽  
Faramarz Hormozi ◽  
Elham Hosseini Rad

Purpose – The main purpose of this paper is the generation of the heat transfer and pressure drop correlations by considering three working fluids, namely air, water, and ethylene glycol, for the wavy plate-fin heat exchangers (PFHEs). Design/methodology/approach – In order to present the general correlations, various models with different geometrical parameters should be tested. Because of the problems, such as difficult, long time, and costly fabrication of the wavy fins in experimental tests, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations can be a useful method for the generation of the heat transfer and pressure drop correlations with eliminating the experimental problems. Hence, the effective design parameters of the wavy plate-fin, including fin pitch, fin height, wave length, fin thickness, wave amplitude, and fin length, and also their levels were recognized from the literature. The Taguchi method was applied to formulate the CFD simulation work. Findings – The simulation results were compared and validated with an available experimental data. The mean deviations of the Colburn factor, j, and Fanning friction factor, f, values between the simulation results and the experimental data were 3.74 and 9.07 percent, respectively. The presented air correlations and experimental data were in a good agreement, so that approximately 95 percent of the experimental data were correlated within ±12 percent. The j factor values varied for the different working fluids, while the f factor values did not sensibly change. Practical implications – The presented correlations can be used to estimate the thermal-hydraulic characteristics and to design of the compact PFHE with the wavy channels. Originality/value – This manuscript presents the new correlations for the compact PFHEs with the way channels by considering all the geometrical parameters and the working fluids with the different Prandtl numbers, 0.7, 7, and 150.

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2069
Author(s):  
Eloy Hontoria ◽  
Alejandro López-Belchí ◽  
Nolberto Munier ◽  
Francisco Vera-García

This paper proposes a methodology aiming at determining the most influent working variables and geometrical parameters over the pressure drop and heat transfer during the condensation process of several refrigerant gases using heat exchangers with pipes mini channels technology. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology was used; this MCDM includes a mathematical method called SIMUS (Sequential Interactive Modelling for Urban Systems) that was applied to the results of 2543 tests obtained by using a designed refrigeration rig in which five different refrigerants (R32, R134a, R290, R410A and R1234yf) and two different tube geometries were tested. This methodology allows us to reduce the computational cost compared to the use of neural networks or other model development systems. This research shows six variables out of 39 that better define simultaneously the minimum pressure drop, as well as the maximum heat transfer, saturation pressure fluid entering the condenser being the most important one. Another aim of this research was to highlight a new methodology based on operation research for their application to improve the heat transfer energy efficiency and reduce the CO2 footprint derived of the use of heat exchangers with minichannels.


Author(s):  
C-C Wang ◽  
Y-P Chang ◽  
K-Y Chi ◽  
Y-J Chang

Extensive experiments on the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of louvre finand-tube heat exchangers were carried out. In the present study, 14 samples of non-redirection louvre fin-and-tube heat exchangers with different geometrical parameters, including the number of tube row, fin pitch and tube size, were tested in a wind tunnel. Results are presented as plots of the Fanning friction factor f and the Colburn j factor against Reynolds number based on the tube collar diameter in the range of 300–8000.


2014 ◽  
Vol 701-702 ◽  
pp. 1233-1236
Author(s):  
Lv Xian Zeng ◽  
Zu Yi Zheng ◽  
Jun Hua Wan ◽  
Xi Chen ◽  
Zhong Min Wan ◽  
...  

Three heat exchangers, all of which have 38 tubes in total and 6 passes, with different tube arrangements were manufactured to be experimental investigated in laboratory. The effect of flat tube distribution on heat transfer performance and pressure drop characteristic was experimental investigated. The effect of different air velocity and flow on heat transfer performance and pressure drop characteristic was also experimental investigated. The results show that similar tube distribution has little effect on heat transfer quality but has great effect on pressure drop. It was found the third arrangement has the best heat transfer and its pressure drop is small. Thus the third arrangement is the best solution. The heat transfer and pressure drop increase with the air velocity and refrigerant flow, so a proper value should be chosen, it was found that the simulation results were mainly agreement with the experimental results.


Author(s):  
Mesbah G. Khan ◽  
Amir Fartaj

In past few years, narrow diameter flow passages (≤3 mm) have attracted huge research attentions due to their several advantageous features over conventional tubes (≥6 mm) especially from the view points of higher heat transfer, lesser weight, and smaller device size. Several classifications of narrow channels, based on sizes, are proposed in the open literature from mini to meso and micro (3 mm to 100 μm). The meso- and micro-channels have not yet entered into the HVAC and automotive heat exchanger industries to the expected potentials to take the above-mentioned advantages. The reasons may be the limited availability of experimental data on pressure drop and heat transfer and the lack of consolidated design correlations as compared to what is established for compact heat exchangers. While a number of studies available on standalone single straight channels, works on multi-channel slab similar to those used as typical thermal heat exchanger core elements are inadequate, especially the research on multichannel serpentine slab are limited in the open literature. The 50% ethylene glycol and water mixture is widely used in heat exchanger industry as a heat transfer fluid. Studies of pressure drop and heat transfer on this commercially important fluid using narrow tube multi-channel slab is scarce and the availability of experimental data is rare in the open literature. Conducting research on various shapes of meso- and micro-channel heat exchanger cores using a variety working fluids are a definite needs as recommended and consistently urged in ongoing research publications in this promising area. Under present long-term project, an automated dynamic single-phase experimental infrastructure has been developed to carryout the fluid flow and heat transfer research in meso- and micro-channel test specimens and prototype microchannel heat exchanger using a variety of working fluids in air-to-liquid crossflow orientation. In the series, experiments have been conducted on 50% ethylene glycol and water solution in a serpentine meso-channel slab having 68 individual channels of 1 mm hydraulic diameter to obtain the heat transfer data and the general pressure drop nature of the test fluid. Current paper presents the heat transfer characteristics of ethylene glycol-water mixture and the Reynolds number effects on pressure drop, heat transfer rate, test specimen NTU and effectiveness, overall thermal resistance, and the Nusselt number.


Author(s):  
Kun-Hao Li ◽  
Chi-Chuan Wang

This study numerically examines some commercially available plate patterns of plate heat exchangers using a 3-D CFD simulation. Detailed flow distribution and heat transfer characteristics subject to three different plate patterns are examined in this study. The plate pattern include GC26 and NT10 (double chevron) and SW26. The effective surface area of the associated plate patterns are 0.8671, 0.6808, and 0.6721 m2, respectively. The corresponding chevron angle are 33°, 64° (double chevron) and 61°, repectively. The calculated results show that the heat transfer efficient for NT10 is higher than that of GC26 by approximately 6.35% and is higher than SW26 by 10.3%. The results indicate that the heat transfer characteristics for the double chevron plate outperform that of the single chevron plate. On the other hand, the pressure drop is also increased with the double chevron as well as chevron angle. However, it is found that the double chevron design provides a better heat transfer capability subject to identical pressure drop.


Author(s):  
K. Godazandeh ◽  
M. H. Ansari ◽  
B. Godazandeh ◽  
M. Ashjaee

In order to reach a more efficient and compact heat exchanger, it is essential to optimize the design, having in mind the impact of different geometrical parameters. Many of the previously cited studies in the area of heat transfer enhancement using vortex generators were confined only to defined points in the possible design space. Thus, a multi-objective optimization study is particularly suitable in order to cover this space entirely. A CFD simulation along with Pareto method were used to simulate the air flow and heat transfer and optimize the design parameters. The angle of attack of a pair of delta-winglets mounted behind each tube is varied between β = −90° and β = +90°. Three elliptical tube rows with inline arrangements are investigated for Reynolds numbers from 500 to 1500 (based on the inlet properties). Use of delta-winglets as heat transfer enhancement elements increases the performance of elliptical-tubes heat exchanger. This enhancement is mainly due to the fact that delta-winglets increase the level of vorticity inside these devices and thus the mixing of the fluid is enhanced.


2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 4334-4348
Author(s):  
Minqiang Pan ◽  
Hongqing Wang ◽  
Yujian Zhong ◽  
Tianyu Fang ◽  
Xineng Zhong

Purpose With the increasing heat dissipation of electronic devices, the cooling demand of electronic products is increasing gradually. A water-cooled microchannel heat exchanger is an effective cooling technology for electronic equipment. The structure of a microchannel has great impact on the heat transfer performance of a microchannel heat exchanger. The purpose of this paper is to analyze and compare the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristic of a microchannel heat exchanger with different reentrant cavities. Design/methodology/approach The three-dimensional steady, laminar developing flow and conjugate heat transfer governing equations of a plate microchannel heat exchanger are solved using the finite volume method. Findings At the flow rate range studied in this paper, the microchannel heat exchangers with reentrant cavities present better heat transfer performance and smaller pressure drop. A microchannel heat exchanger with trapezoidal-shaped cavities has best heat transfer performance, and a microchannel heat exchanger with fan-shaped cavities has the smallest pressure drop. Research limitations/implications The fluid is incompressible and the inlet temperature is constant. Practical implications It is an effective way to enhance heat transfer and reduce pressure drop by adding cavities in microchannels and the data will be helpful as guidelines in the selection of reentrant cavities. Originality/value This paper provides the pressure drop and heat transfer performance analysis of microchannel heat exchangers with various reentrant cavities, which can provide reference for heat transfer augmentation of an existing microchannel heat exchanger in a thermal design.


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