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Numerical investigation for finding the appropriate design parameters of a fin-and-tube heat exchanger with delta-winglet vortex generators

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Abstract

A numerical simulation is performed to investigate the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of three-row inline tube bundles as a part of a heat exchanger (Re = 1000, Pr = 4.29). To enhance heat transfer, two pairs of delta winglet-type vortex generators (VGs) installed beside the first row and between the first and second rows of the tube bundles. The diameter of the second row of the tubes is chosen smaller than those of the first and third. A comprehensive study on the effects of various geometrical parameters such as transverse and longitudinal positions of VGs, length and height of VGs and angle of attack of the delta winglets is performed to augment heat transfer. Based on this study the best values of these design parameters are determined. The results showed that the best model increases the convective heat transfer ratio and thermal performance factor about 59 and 43 %, respectively, in compare with the geometry without VG.

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Abbreviations

A:

Heat transfer area (m2)

Cp :

Specific heat (J/kg K)

d:

Tube diameter of the second row (m)

D:

Tube diameter of the first and third row (m)

Dh :

Hydraulic diameter, Dh = 2H (m)

E:

Thermal performance factor

f:

Fanning friction factor

h:

Heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 K)

h* :

Height of delta winglet (m)

H:

Channel height (fin pitch) (m)

j:

Colburn factor

l:

Length of delta winglet (m)

L:

Length of main domain (m)

p:

Pressure (Pa)

Pl :

Longitudinal tube pitch (m)

Pr:

Prandtl number

Pt :

Transverse tube pitch (m)

Δp:

Pressure drop (Pa)

Q:

Heat transfer (W)

Re:

Reynolds number

S:

Channel width (m)

t:

Thickness of delta winglet (m)

T:

Temperature (K)

ΔT:

Temperature difference (K)

u, v, w:

Velocity components in x, y and z directions (m/s)

Uin :

Inlet velocity (m/s)

x, y, z:

Cartesian coordinates (m)

X:

Longitudinal position of delta winglet (m)

Y:

Transverse position of delta winglet (m)

α:

Attack angle of the first delta winglet (°)

β:

Attack angle of the second delta winglet (°)

Γ:

Total vorticity flux (1/s)

μ :

Dynamic viscosity (Pa s)

ρ :

Density (kg/m3)

\(\overline{\omega }\) :

Magnitude of the vorticity vector (1/s)

i, k:

Index

in:

Inlet parameter

LMTD:

Logarithmic mean temperature difference

o:

Heat exchanger without delta winglet

out:

Outlet parameter

w:

Wall

1:

Related to first delta winglet

2:

Related to second delta winglet

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran

    M. Behfard & A. Sohankar

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  1. M. Behfard
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  2. A. Sohankar
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Correspondence to A. Sohankar.

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Behfard, M., Sohankar, A. Numerical investigation for finding the appropriate design parameters of a fin-and-tube heat exchanger with delta-winglet vortex generators. Heat Mass Transfer 52, 21–37 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-015-1705-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-015-1705-1

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