scholarly journals Performance Improvement of a Fin-Tube Heat Exchanger Using Rectangular Winglet as Vortex Generator

Heat transfer performance of fin-tube heat exchanger can be augmented by using longitudinal vortex generators. Numerical simulations have been performed in the present work for investigating the effect of punching a rectangular winglet having hole from fin surface, on the heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics in a fin-tube heat exchanger. The concept of punching out a rectangular winglet having hole from the fin-plate surface is being proposed here and studied in two configurations namely, common flow down and common flow up. Comparisons on the basis of heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics have been drawn for all the configurations under consideration using Colburn’s factor (j), friction factor (f) and performance evaluation criterion (PEC) also known as area goodness factor (j/f). Investigations have been performed considering Reynolds number in the range of 1500 to 9000 and angle of attack as 45°. The result clearly indicates that punched out rectangular winglet with hole having common flow down configuration at upstream location as exhibiting the best thermal performance, followed by common flow up at upstream location and, common flow down at downstream location.

2019 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 47-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sachin Gupta ◽  
Aditya Roy ◽  
Arvind Gupta

The heat transfer performance of fin-tube heat exchangers can be enhanced with the help of longitudinal vortex generators. In this work, we investigate the effect of employing a rectangular winglet having a punched hole on heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics in a fin-tube heat exchanger with the help of numerical simulations. Studies were performed on two configurations, namely, common flow down and common flow up at upstream and downstream locations. Performance characteristics such as Colburn’s factor ( j), friction factor ( f), and performance evaluation criterion were considered for evaluating the thermohydraulic performance. Investigations were performed considering Reynolds number in the range of 1500–9000, keeping the angle of attack as 45°. The shear stress transport k-ω turbulence model was used for performing numerical simulations. A significant augmentation of up to 71% in the thermohydraulic performance of fin-tube heat exchanger was observed with the common flow down configuration located upstream over the common flow up configuration located upstream, which displayed the least improvement.


2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. He ◽  
L. Liu ◽  
A. M. Jacobi

The impact of a vortex-generation technique for air-side heat-transfer improvement is experimentally investigated through full-scale wind-tunnel testing of a plain-fin round-tube heat exchanger under dry-surface conditions. Inspired by the formation locomotion of animals in nature, a new vortex generator (VG) array deployed in a “V” is proposed in the present work, aiming to create constructive interference between vortices. The array is composed of two delta-winglet pairs and placed at an attack angle of 10 deg or 30 deg. Its effectiveness is compared with a baseline configuration and two conventional single-pair designs placed at 30 deg, a small pair with half the area of the array and a large pair with the same area as the array. The frontal air velocity considered ranges from 2.3 m/s to 5.5 m/s, corresponding to a Reynolds number range based on the hydraulic diameter of 1400–3400. The experimental results show little impact of the 10 deg array and a moderate heat-transfer improvement of up to 32% for the small pair, both introducing additional pressure loss of approximately 20–40%. For the 30 deg array and the large pair, similar augmentation of 25–55% in air-side heat-transfer coefficient is obtained accompanied by average pressure drop penalties of 90% and 140%, respectively. Performance evaluation using the criteria of the modified area goodness factor and the volume goodness factor indicates the superiority of the heat exchanger enhanced by the 30 deg array among all the investigated VGs. The VG array is found more effective at comparatively low Reynolds numbers, representative of many heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration applications and compact heat-exchanger designs.


2002 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seong-Yeon Yoo ◽  
Dong-Seong Park ◽  
Min-Ho Chung ◽  
Sang-Yun Lee

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 9261
Author(s):  
Yun-Seok Choi ◽  
Youn-Jea Kim

As electrical devices become smaller, it is essential to maintain operating temperature for safety and durability. Therefore, there are efforts to improve heat transfer performance under various conditions, such as using extended surfaces and nanofluids. Among them, cooling methods using ferrofluid are drawing the attention of many researchers. This fluid can control the movement of the fluid in magnetic fields. In this study, the heat transfer performance of a fin-tube heat exchanger, using ferrofluid as a coolant, was analyzed when external magnetic fields were applied. Permanent magnets were placed outside the heat exchanger. When the magnetic fields were applied, a change in the thermal boundary layer was observed. It also formed vortexes, which affected the formation of flow patterns. The vortex causes energy exchanges in the flow field, activating thermal diffusion and improving heat transfer. A numerical analysis was used to observe the cooling performance of heat exchangers, as the strength and number of the external magnetic fields were varying. VGs (vortex generators) were also installed to create vortex fields. A convective heat transfer coefficient was calculated to determine the heat transfer rate. In addition, the comparative analysis was performed with graphical results using contours of temperature and velocity.


1966 ◽  
Vol 88 (2) ◽  
pp. 179-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Franz J. Schulenberg

Finned circular tubes have been used exclusively in air-cooled heat exchangers built for the American petroleum and chemical industries. In Europe, however, other tube geometries, in particular, finned elliptical tubes, have been used with great success. In this paper, the theory of the finned elliptical tube and its application in air-cooled heat exchangers are discussed. Finned circular and elliptical tubes are compared; it is shown that the developed heat transfer surface alone is not a sufficient criterion for predicting the performance of an air-cooled fin-tube heat exchanger.


Author(s):  
Jieun Hwang ◽  
Keumnam Cho

Heat exchanger experiences frost on its surface when it operates below 0°C under heating condition of the heat pump. Since frost blocks air flow through the fin tube heat exchanger, it increases air-side pressure drop and deteriorates heat transfer rate of the heat exchanger. Prediction of the frost profiles on the heat exchanger is needed to minimize the unfavorable effect on the heat exchanger by frost. The present study predicts non-uniform frost distribution on the surface of fin-tube heat exchanger and shows its accuracy by comparing with measured profiles. Fin and tube heat exchanger for heat pump was considered for the frost prediction under practical refrigerant and air conditions. Non-uniform frost pattern was predicted by using segment by segment method of the heat exchanger. Heat transfer rate and exit temperature of air and refrigerant for each segment were calculated by applying ε-NTU method. Air volume flow rate in the front of the heat exchanger was decreased as frost goes on. It was utilized for the prediction of the frost formation. Numerically predicted results were compared with measured local data. They agreed within ±10.4% under the ISO 5151 condition.


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