Analysis of Flow Mal-Distribution in a Cross-Flow Heat Exchanger

2014 ◽  
Vol 592-594 ◽  
pp. 1428-1432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Krishna P. Mohan ◽  
Shekar M. Santosh ◽  
M. Ramakanth ◽  
M.R. Thansekhar ◽  
M. Venkatesan
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Commercial Code ◽  
Uniform Flow Distribution ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
Channel Assembly ◽  
Uniform Fluid

Flow mal-distribution is defined as the non-uniform fluid flow distribution among the parallel channels having a common header. Flow mal-distribution is present in every header channel assembly. This mal-distribution has a significant effect on the performance of the heat exchanger by increasing the pressure drop and affecting the heat transfer characteristics. However, in designing a heat exchanger, a uniform flow distribution in each channel is assumed. The present work attempts to reduce the flow mal-distribution in a cross flow heat exchanger. A numerical analysis is done using a commercial code ANSYS FLUENT 3D and the results are validated experimentally. A parametric study is done by changing the size of the channels within the heat exchanger so as to reduce the flow mal-distribution. The effect of varying channel size on flow mal-distribution and pressure drop across the heat exchanger is studied and a geometry with reduced flow mal-distribution is found.

scholarly journals Investigation of flow non-uniformities in the cross-flow heat exchanger with elliptical tubes

2019 ◽  
Vol 108 ◽  
pp. 01009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stanisław Łopata ◽  
Paweł Ocłoń ◽  
Tomasz Stelmach
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Measurement Data ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Transitional Flow ◽  
Working Fluid ◽  
Elliptical Cross ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
The Cross ◽  
Inflow Conditions

In heat exchangers, especially those with the cross-flow arrangement, it is nearly impossible to achieve the uniform distribution of the working fluid in the tubular space with the currently used inlet and outlet chambers (in some constructions as well). The improper inflow conditions to individual tubes, including those with an elliptical cross-section - often used because of their favorable features compared to round tubes, is the cause of improper heat transfer. In this respect, transitional flow is of particular importance. This flow regime is complex and challenging to model. Therefore, it is necessary to perform experimental verification. For this purpose, an appropriate stand was built, allowing to investigate the flow of the working fluid (water) to the elliptical tubes in the cross-current heat exchanger. The paper presents the results of measurements for manifold geometry, which are currently used in practice (for heat exchanger constructions). The analysis of the measurement data confirms the nonuniform flow distribution to individual tubes of the heat exchanger.

Characteristic Analysis of the Influence of Flow Rate Distribution in Each Flat Tube of Parallel Flow Heat Exchanger to Heat Transfer

2014 ◽  
Vol 1008-1009 ◽  
pp. 927-933
Author(s):  
Hai Jiang Yang ◽  
Ming Li ◽  
Xiao Ye Xue ◽  
Yan Liu ◽  
Kui Huang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Uniform Flow ◽  
Parallel Flow ◽  
Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Heat Transfer Efficiency ◽  
Uniform Flow Distribution ◽  
Flow Heat

In this paper, the heat transfer rate of parallel flow heat exchanger was obtained in the condition of non-uniform flow distribution by 3D numerical simulation. The maximum theoretical heat transfer rate of parallel flow heat exchanger was obtained through 1D calculation. Ultimately, the correlation of the influence of non-uniform flow distribution on heat transfer efficiency was obtained by the comparative analysis of non-uniform flow distribution and heat transfer efficiency and regression calculation. It was found that the forecasted heat transfer efficiency error of correlation was within 2%.

scholarly journals Investigation of effect on cross-flow heat exchanger with air flow non-uniformity under low Reynolds number

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 168781401770808 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kai Shen ◽  
Zhendong Zhang ◽  
Ziqing Zhang ◽  
Youwen Yang
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Low Reynolds Number ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Calculation Model ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
Air Flows ◽  
Low Reynolds

In this study, the theoretical and experimental study of a cross-flow heat exchanger is carried out based on the theory of porous media under low Reynolds number. The accuracy of the mathematical calculation model is verified by experiments. Pressure drop in air side and efficiency of heat exchanger are analyzed with mathematical models of various non-uniform air flows under low Reynolds number. The responses are found influences of air flow non-uniformity on pressure drop and efficiency of heat exchanger have certain rules. The difference in pressure drops between non-uniform air flows and evenly distributed air flows is linearly related to variance [Formula: see text] of non-uniformity. And the increasing rate of resistance energy consumption difference between non-uniform air flows and evenly distributed air flows is approximately linearly related to the relatively non-uniform coefficient squared [Formula: see text] of non-uniformity. The descent range of heat transfer efficiency has exponential relation to the relatively non-uniform coefficient [Formula: see text].

scholarly journals Performance Analysis of a Countercurrent Flow Heat Exchanger Placed on the Truck Compartment Roof

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wamei Lin ◽  
Jinliang Yuan ◽  
Bengt Sundén
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Countercurrent Flow ◽  
Position Change ◽  
Power Requirement ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Pin Fin ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
The Cross

Due to the increasing power requirement and the limited available space in vehicles, placing the heat exchanger at the roof or the underbody of vehicles might increase the possibility to handle the cooling requirement. A new configuration of the heat exchanger has to be developed to accommodate with the position change. In this paper, a countercurrent heat exchanger is developed for position on the roof of the vehicle compartment. In order to find an appropriate configuration of fins with high thermal performance on the air side, the computational fluid dynamics approach is applied for a comparative study among louver fin, wavy fin, and pin fin by using ANSYS FLUENT software. It is found that the louver fin performs high thermal performance and low pressure drop. Thus, the louver fin is chosen to be the configuration of the countercurrent flow heat exchanger. It is also found that the countercurrent flow heat exchanger presents higher heat transfer coefficient than the cross flow heat exchanger. Furthermore, the overall size and the air pumping power of the countercurrent flow heat exchanger are lower than those in the cross flow heat exchanger. Several suggestions and recommendations are highlighted.

scholarly journals Performance Analysis of a Countercurrent Flow Heat Exchanger Placed on the Truck Compartment Roof

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wamei Lin ◽  
Jinliang Yuan ◽  
Bengt Sunde´n
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Thermal Performance ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Countercurrent Flow ◽  
Position Change ◽  
Power Requirement ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Pin Fin ◽  
Fluent Software ◽  
Flow Heat

Due to the increasing power requirement and the limited available space in vehicles, placing the heat exchanger at the roof or the underbody of vehicles might increase the possibility to handle the cooling requirement. A new configuration of the heat exchanger has to be developed to accommodate with the position change. In this paper, a countercurrent heat exchanger is developed for position on the roof of the vehicle compartment. In order to find an appropriate configuration of fins with high thermal performance on the air side, the CFD (computational fluid dynamics) approach is applied for a comparative study among louver fin, wavy fin, and pin fin by using ANSYS FLUENT software. It is found that the louver fin has high thermal performance and low pressure drop. Thus, the louver fin is chosen to be the configuration of the countercurrent heat exchanger, which presents higher heat transfer coefficient than a cross flow heat exchanger. For a specific case, the overall size and the air pumping power of the countercurrent flow heat exchanger is lower than that one for a cross flow heat exchanger. Several suggestions and recommendations are highlighted.

scholarly journals Numerical and experimental analysis of a tube-and-fin cross-flow heat exchanger with a controlled non-uniform inflow of gas

2021 ◽  
Vol 323 ◽  
pp. 00005
Author(s):  
Tomasz Bury ◽  
Małgorzata Hanuszkiewicz-Drapała
Keyword(s):  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Experimental Test ◽  
Experimental Analysis ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Ansys Fluent ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Air Inlet ◽  
Flow Heat ◽  
The Impact

The paper presents results of numerical and experimental analyses of a fin-and-tube air-water heat exchanger. The analysed device is a one-row heat exchanger with finned elliptical tubes. The aim of the analyses is to investigate the impact of a controlled non-uniform inflow of air on the heat exchanger performance. The heat exchanger was modelled numerically using the ANSYS Fluent program. The developed model was applied to simulate the heat exchanger operation in the conditions of the uniform inflow of air. Cases of an uncontrolled non-uniform inflow of gas were investigated experimentally, using a purpose-designed test station. On the experimental test station the effect of a controlled non-uniform air inflow was also achieved by placing appropriately shaped inserts in the air inlet duct, directing the air partially to the region of the water inlet header. By controlling the gas inflow, it was possible to significantly enhance the heat exchanger performance. The results of the multivariate numerical analyses conducted for the adopted parameters of the mediums (air and water volumetric flow rates and water temperature) show that the heat exchanger performance can be improved by up to almost 5% compared to a variant with a natural non-uniform air inflow taking place in the exchanger under consideration.

scholarly journals Design, simulation, and testing of a novel micro-channel heat exchanger for natural gas cooling in automotive applications

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yibin Deng ◽  
Shyam Menon ◽  
Zoe Lavrich ◽  
Hailei Wang ◽  
Christopher Hagen
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
Numerical Simulations ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Flow Distribution ◽  
Micro Channel ◽  
The Novel ◽  
Ansys Fluent

Micro-channel heat exchangers offer potential for a highly compact solution in heat transfer applications that have space limitations. Mobile applications such as automotive vehicles are one such area. This work presents the design, modeling, simulation and testing of a two-region micro-channel heat exchanger, employing both engine coolant and R134a, for use in an engine that compresses natural gas for on-board refueling at pressures up to 250 bar. The novel design of the micro-channel heat exchanger is presented. Numerical simulations were performed using ANSYS Fluent utilizing extrapolation techniques to estimate the pressure drop as a function of flow rate and symmetry methods to investigate heat transfer. Pressure drop was determined experimentally, and heat transfer was investigated through system tests employing the novel engine. Experimental results showed good comparison with corresponding numerical simulations which demonstrated the validity of the applied extrapolation and symmetry methods, enabling considerable reduction in computational cost. The pressure drop, flow distribution, and heat transfer characteristics of the heat exchanger are discussed.

scholarly journals Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of Cross-flow Heat Exchanger on Modules Variation

2013 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 120-127
Author(s):  
Jong-Min Kim ◽  
Jinsu Kim ◽  
Byeonghun Yu ◽  
Sungmin Kum ◽  
Chang-Eon Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchanger ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Cross Flow ◽  
Flow Heat
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