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Flow topology, heat transfer characteristic and thermal performance in a circular tube heat exchanger inserted with punched delta winglet vortex generators

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Abstract

To improve the heat transfer rate and thermal performance, the punched delta winglet vortex generators, DWVGs, were inserted in the middle of the circular tube heat exchanger. The effects of the flow attack angles and the flow directions were investigated numerically for the Reynolds number Re = 100–2000. The finite volume method and the SIMPLE algorithm were used to study. The results are reported in terms of the flow structure, heat transfer behavior and thermal performance evaluation and also compared with the smooth tube with no vortex generators. As the numerical results, the use of the DWVGs in the tube can improve the heat transfer rate and thermal performance by creating the vortex flow through the tested section. The rise of the flow attack angle results in the increasing strength of the vortex flows. The flow attack angle of 25° performs the highest heat transfer rate and thermal performance, while the flow attack angle of 0o gives the reversed results. The computational results reveal that the optimum thermal enhancement factor is around 2.80 at Re = 2000, α = 25°, with the winglet tip pointing downstream. The correlations on both the Nusselt number ratio and friction factor ratio for the DWVG in the tube heat exchanger are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

    Amnart Boonloi

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, Bangkok, 10520, Thailand

    Withada Jedsadaratanachai

Authors
  1. Amnart Boonloi
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  2. Withada Jedsadaratanachai
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Correspondence to Withada Jedsadaratanachai.

Additional information

Withada Jedsadaratanachai is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), Bangkok, Thailand. She is a lecturer in the department of Mechanical Engineering, KMITL. Her research work considers computational fluid dynamics (CFD), mathematical modeling and thermo-fluids.

Amnart Boonloi is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering Technology at King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB), Thailand. He obtained his D.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering from King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang in 2011. His research interests include Thermal & fluid engineering, heat transfer enhancement and computational fluid dynamics and drying technology.

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Boonloi, A., Jedsadaratanachai, W. Flow topology, heat transfer characteristic and thermal performance in a circular tube heat exchanger inserted with punched delta winglet vortex generators. J Mech Sci Technol 30, 457–471 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-1251-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-1251-2

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