Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement in fin and tube heat exchangers using curved semi wavy vortex generators.

Abstract

Abstract This paper deals with a three dimensional numerical study of heat transfer and pressure drop for fin and tube bank heat exchanger with a vortex generator. A new type of vortex generator, curved semi-wavy vortex generators (CSWVGs) is introduced and compared its performance. The computational domain consists of a small portion between two adjacent fins and air is used as the working fluid. The vortex generators are punched out from the fin surface. the analysis show that with the use of new vortex generators convective heat transfer rate has been increased by increasing the solid to fluid interaction through delaying the boundary layer separation, directing the working fluid to the wake region and bringing vortices into the working fluid. The most favourable position and geometric parameter of the new CSWVGs are found by studying the average Nusselt number and friction factor at various Reynolds ranging from 800 to 2000.