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Three-dimensional fin-tube expansion process to achieve high heat transfer efficiency in heat exchangers

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Abstract

A novel manufacturing process for expanding the tubes of fin-tube type heat exchangers using a three-dimensional (3D) spiral expanding ball fabricated via metal additive manufacturing was proposed for the manufacture of highly efficient heat exchangers. To improve the heat transfer efficiency of fin-tube type heat exchangers, fine grooves are generally formed inside a tube to increase the heat transfer area. However, the height of a groove is commonly reduced when a tube is expanded for tightening with fins. To address this issue, a 3D expanding ball with spiral grooves was first developed and used in the expansion process. In conventional tube expansion, the height reduction of grooves is approximately 10.3 %. However, we demonstrated that it was dramatically improved, reaching approximately 1.7 %, when the proposed process with a 3D expanding ball was applied. We believe that this approach can be used in practical industries to manufacture highly efficient fin-tube heat exchangers.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the “Human Resources Program in Energy Technology” of the Korea Institute of Energy Technology Evaluation and Planning and granted financial resources by the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Republic of Korea (No. 20184010201660). Furthermore, it was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education (No. 2017R1D1A1A09000923).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Geumjeong-gu, Busan, 609-735, Korea

    Seong-Yeop Kang & Sae-Rom So

  2. Digital Manufacturing Process Group, Korea Institute of Industrial Technology, Sehaean-ro, Siheung-si, Kyungki-do, 11358, Korea

    Yong Son

  3. School of Mechanical Engineering and ERC/NSDM, Pusan National University, Busandaehak-ro 63beon-gil, Busan, 609-735, Korea

    Seonghun Park, Man-Yeong Ha & Sang-Hu Park

Authors
  1. Seong-Yeop Kang
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  2. Sae-Rom So
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  3. Yong Son
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  4. Seonghun Park
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  5. Man-Yeong Ha
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  6. Sang-Hu Park
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sang-Hu Park.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Seok-min Kim

Seong Yeop Kang is a M.S. student in Pusan National University. His research interests include the development of manufacturing processes for heat exchangers and the optimal design of mechanical structures.

Sang Hu Park is a Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering, Pusan National University. He obtained his M.A. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering in the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in 1996 and 2006, respectively. His research fields include engineering for additive manufacturing, sheet metal forming, and nanofabrication.

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Kang, SY., So, SR., Son, Y. et al. Three-dimensional fin-tube expansion process to achieve high heat transfer efficiency in heat exchangers. J Mech Sci Technol 33, 4401–4406 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0836-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-019-0836-6

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