The CFD Based Method for Determining Heat Transfer Correlations on Individual Rows of Plate-Fin and Tube Heat Exchangers

Abstract

The chapter provides an analytical mathematical model of a car radiator, which includes different heat transfer coefficients (HTCs) on the first and second row of pipes. The air-side HTCs in the first and second row of pipes in the first and second pass were calculated using the correlations for the Nusselt number, which were determined by CFD simulation using the ANSYS software. Mathematical models of two radiators were built, one of which was manufactured of round tubes and the other of oval tubes. The model permits the determination of thermal output of the first and second row of tubes in the first and second pass. The small relative differences between the thermal capacities of the heat exchanger occur for different and uniform HTCs. However, the heat flow rate in the first row is much greater than the heat flow in the second row if the air-side HTCs are different on the first and second tube row compared to a case where the HTC is uniform in the whole heat exchanger. The heat transfer rates in both radiators calculated using the developed mathematical model were compared with those determined experimentally. The method for modeling of plate-fin and tube heat exchanger (PFTHE) proposed in the paper does not require empirical correlations to calculate HTCs both on the air side and on the inner surfaces of pipes. The presented method of calculating PFTHEs, considering different air-side HTCs evaluated using CFD modeling, may considerably reduce the cost of experimental research concerning new design heat exchangers implemented in manufacturing.