Analysis of the Fin Performance of Offset Strip Fins Used in Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers

2016 ◽  
Vol 138 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Yang ◽  
Yanzhong Li ◽  
Biao Si ◽  
Jieyu Zheng ◽  
Rui Kang
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Mass Flux ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Height Ratio ◽  
Fin Efficiency ◽  
Fin Thickness ◽  
Offset Strip Fin ◽  
Selection Of

As an important consideration in the design of plate-fin heat exchangers, the selection of plate-fin surfaces is associated with the estimation of the fin performance in many cases. The fin performance of offset strip fin (OSF) and plain fin is numerically investigated with well-validated 3D models in the present study. The comparative analysis shows that the conventional fin efficiency and fin effectiveness concepts provide an incomplete assessment of the fin performance of the fins, and lead to impractical suggestions of using OSF fin. Further investigation indicates that the idealization of uniform heat transfer coefficient over all the surfaces in fin channel, which runs through the conventional concepts, is untenable, and strongly restricts the fin performance analysis. An actual fin effectiveness is then proposed to measure the fin performance. It physically represents the ratio of the heat flux over the fin surfaces and that over the primary surfaces in the fin channel. With this method, the effects of the geometrical parameters of the OSF are discussed carefully. The results show that there exists a specific fin thickness-to-height ratio α and fin density γ, which contribute to the highest fin performance for a given mass flux, and the optimal γ (or α) increases (or decreases) as mass flux increases. The OSF fins with relatively large fin thickness-to-length ratio δ perform better in low Re region and the optimum δ decreases with the increasing Re number.

Performance Evaluation of Heat Transfer Enhancement for Offset Strip Fins Used in Plate-Fin Heat Exchangers

2015 ◽  
Vol 137 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yujie Yang ◽  
Yanzhong Li ◽  
Biao Si ◽  
Jieyu Zheng
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Entropy Generation ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Distribution Factor ◽  
Transfer Enhancement ◽  
Entropy Generation Number ◽  
Fin Thickness

In general, offset strip fin (OSF) used in plate-fin heat exchangers is able to provide a greater heat transfer coefficient than the plain fin with the same cross section, but it will also cause the increase of flow friction and pressure drop owing to the fin offset. A new parameter denoted by Ψ*, called relative entropy generation distribution factor, is proposed in this paper to comprehensively reflect the thermodynamic performance of different passage structures in plate-fin heat exchanger. This parameter physically represents relative changes of entropy generation and irreversibility, which are induced by both heat transfer and friction loss due to the utilization of OSF fins. The high magnitude of Ψ* represents a beneficial contribution of OSF with higher degree of the heat transfer enhancement. The proposed method is more reasonable and comprehensive than either the conventional augmentation entropy generation number, Ns,a, or the entropy generation distribution factor, ψ, to evaluate the heat transfer enhancement for OSF cores subject to various operating conditions. With the proposed method, the relative effects of the geometrical parameters of OSF fins, such as the fin thickness-to-height ratio α, fin density γ, and fin thickness-to-length ratio δ, on the heat transfer enhancement are discussed in detail. The results show that relatively small δ results in a better performance, while the parameter α or γ, which contribute to a higher degree of heat transfer enhancement of OSF fin, should be determined after the selection of the other two geometric parameters.

scholarly journals A MCDM Methodology to Determine the Most Critical Variables in the Pressure Drop and Heat Transfer in Minichannels

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (8) ◽  
pp. 2069
Author(s):  
Eloy Hontoria ◽  
Alejandro López-Belchí ◽  
Nolberto Munier ◽  
Francisco Vera-García
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Saturation Pressure ◽  
Computational Cost ◽  
Urban Systems ◽  
Condensation Process ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Maximum Heat ◽  
Maximum Heat Transfer

This paper proposes a methodology aiming at determining the most influent working variables and geometrical parameters over the pressure drop and heat transfer during the condensation process of several refrigerant gases using heat exchangers with pipes mini channels technology. A multi-criteria decision making (MCDM) methodology was used; this MCDM includes a mathematical method called SIMUS (Sequential Interactive Modelling for Urban Systems) that was applied to the results of 2543 tests obtained by using a designed refrigeration rig in which five different refrigerants (R32, R134a, R290, R410A and R1234yf) and two different tube geometries were tested. This methodology allows us to reduce the computational cost compared to the use of neural networks or other model development systems. This research shows six variables out of 39 that better define simultaneously the minimum pressure drop, as well as the maximum heat transfer, saturation pressure fluid entering the condenser being the most important one. Another aim of this research was to highlight a new methodology based on operation research for their application to improve the heat transfer energy efficiency and reduce the CO2 footprint derived of the use of heat exchangers with minichannels.

The Air-Side Thermal-Hydraulic Performance of Flat-Tube Heat Exchangers With Louvered, Wavy, and Plain Fins Under Dry and Wet Conditions

2009 ◽  
Vol 131 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Young-Gil Park ◽  
Anthony M. Jacobi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Hydraulic Performance ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Flat Tube ◽  
Parametric Effects ◽  
Dry And Wet Conditions ◽  
Wet Surface ◽  
Friction Performance

The air-side thermal-hydraulic performance of flat-tube aluminum heat exchangers is studied experimentally for conditions typical to air-conditioning applications, for heat exchangers constructed with serpentine louvered, wavy, and plain fins. Using a closed-loop calorimetric wind tunnel, heat transfer and pressure drop are measured at air face velocities from 0.5 m/s to 2.8 m/s for dry- and wet-surface conditions. Parametric effects related to geometry and operating conditions on heat transfer and friction performance of the heat exchangers are explored. Significant differences in the effect of geometrical parameters are found for dry and wet conditions. For the louver-fin geometry, using a combined database from the present and the previous studies, empirical curve-fits for the Colburn j- and f-factors are developed in terms of a wet-surface multiplier. The wet-surface multiplier correlations fit the present database with rms relative residuals of 21.1% and 24.4% for j and f multipliers, respectively. Alternatively, stand-alone Colburn j and f correlations give rms relative residuals of 22.7% and 29.1%, respectively.

Performance of Plate Heat Exchangers Used as Refrigerant Liquid-Overfeed Evaporators

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jianchang Huang ◽  
Thomas J. Sheer ◽  
Michael Bailey-McEwan
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Flux ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Mass Flux ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Strong Dependence ◽  
Nucleate Boiling ◽  
Small Range ◽  
Plate Heat ◽  
System Pressure

The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of plate heat exchangers were measured, when used as refrigerant liquid over-feed evaporators. The three units all had 24 plates but with different chevron-angle combinations of 28°/28°, 28°/60°, and 60°/60°. R134a flowing upwards was used as the refrigerant, in a counter-current arrangement with water flowing on the other side. Heat transfer and pressure drop measurements were made over a range of mass flux, heat flux and corresponding outlet vapour fractions. The effect of system pressure on the evaporator performance was not evaluated due to the small range of evaporating temperature. Experimental data were reduced to obtain the refrigerant-side heat transfer coefficient and frictional pressure drop. The results for heat transfer showed a strong dependence on heat flux and weak dependence on mass flux and vapour fraction. Furthermore, the chevron angle had a small influence on heat transfer but a large influence on frictional pressure drops. Along with observations that were obtained previously on large ammonia and R12 plate evaporators, it is concluded that the dominating heat transfer mechanism in this type of evaporator is nucleate-boiling rather than forced convection. For the two-phase friction factor, various established methods were evaluated; the homogeneous treatment gives good agreement.

An Experimental Investigation of Convective Heat Transfer From Wire-On-Tube Heat Exchangers

1997 ◽  
Vol 119 (2) ◽  
pp. 348-356 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Hoke ◽  
A. M. Clausing ◽  
T. D. Swofford
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Experimental Investigation ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer ◽  
Convective Heat ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Steel Wire ◽  
Convective Heat Transfer Coefficient ◽  
Wire Diameter ◽  
Forced Flow ◽  
Geometrical Parameters

An experimental investigation of the air-side convective heat transfer from wire-on-tube heat exchangers is described. The study is motivated by the desire to predict the performance, in a forced flow, of the steel wire-on-tube condensers used in most refrigerators. Previous investigations of wire-on-tube heat exchangers in a forced flow have not been reported in the literature. The many geometrical parameters (wire diameter, tube diameter, wire pitch, tube pitch, etc.), the complex conductive paths in the heat exchanger, and the importance of buoyant forces in a portion of the velocity regime of interest make the study a formidable one. A key to the successful correlation of the experimental results is a definition of the convective heat transfer coefficient, hw, that accounts for the temperature gradients in the wires as well as the vast difference in the two key characteristic lengths—the tube and wire diameters. Although this definition results in the need to solve a transcendental equation in order to obtain hw from the experimental data, the use of the resulting empirical correlation is straightforward. The complex influence of the mixed convection regime on the heat transfer from wire-on-tube heat exchangers is shown, as well as the effects of air velocity and the angle of attack. The study covers a velocity range of 0 to 2 m/s (the Reynolds number based on wire diameter extends to 200) and angles of attack varying from 0 deg (horizontal coils) to ±90 deg. Heat transfer data from seven different wire-on-tube heat exchangers are correlated so that 95 percent of the data below a Richardson number of 0.004, based on the wire diameter, lie within ±16.7 percent of the proposed correlation.

Heat Transfer in Radially Rotating Pin-Fin Channel at High Rotation Numbers

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shyy Woei Chang ◽  
Tong-Miin Liou ◽  
Tsun Lirng Yang ◽  
Guo Fang Hong
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Flow Region ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Previous Attempt ◽  
Height Ratio ◽  
Pin Fin ◽  
Nusselt Numbers ◽  
Rotation Numbers ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Selection Of

Endwall heat transfer measurements for a radially rotating rectangular pin-fin channel with the width-to-height ratio (aspect ratio) of 8 are performed at the parametric conditions of 5000≤Re≤20,000, 0≤Ro≤1.4, and 0.1≤Δρ/ρ≤0.21. Centerline heat transfer levels along the leading and trailing endwalls of the rotating pin-fin channel are, respectively, raised to 1.77–3.72 and 3.06–5.2 times of the Dittus–Boelter values. No previous attempt has examined the heat transfer performances for the pin-fin channel at such high rotation numbers. A selection of experimental data illustrates the individual and interactive Re, Ro, and buoyancy number (Bu) effects on heat transfer. Spanwise heat transfer variations between two adjoining pin rows are detected with the averaged Nusselt numbers (Nu) determined. A set of empirical equations that calculates Nu values over leading and trailing endwalls in the developed flow region is derived to correlate all the heat transfer data generated by this study and permits the evaluation of interactive and individual effects of Re, Ro, and Bu on Nu. With the aid of the Nu correlations derived, the operating conditions with the worst heat transfer scenarios for this rotating pin-fin channel are identified.

Thermal Assessment of Forced Convection Through Metal Foam Heat Exchangers

2011 ◽  
Vol 133 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Tamayol ◽  
K. Hooman
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Thermal Resistance ◽  
Forced Convection ◽  
Heat Transfer Rate ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Transfer Rate ◽  
Metal Foam ◽  
Convection Heat Transfer ◽  
Geometrical Parameters ◽  
Convection Heat

Using a thermal resistance approach, forced convection heat transfer through metal foam heat exchangers is studied theoretically. The complex microstructure of metal foams is modeled as a matrix of interconnected solid ligaments forming simple cubic arrays of cylinders. The geometrical parameters are evaluated from existing correlations in the literature with the exception of ligament diameter which is calculated from a compact relationship offered in the present study. The proposed, simple but accurate, thermal resistance model considers: the conduction inside the solid ligaments, the interfacial convection heat transfer, and convection heat transfer to (or from) the solid bounding walls. The present model makes it possible to conduct a parametric study. Based on the generated results, it is observed that the heat transfer rate from the heated plate has a direct relationship with the foam pore per inch (PPI) and solidity. Furthermore, it is noted that increasing the height of the metal foam layer augments the overall heat transfer rate; however, the increment is not linear. Results obtained from the proposed model were successfully compared with experimental data found in the literature for rectangular and tubular metal foam heat exchangers.

Performance of One- and Two-Row Tube and Plate Fin Heat Exchangers

1984 ◽  
Vol 106 (3) ◽  
pp. 627-632 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. C. Rosman ◽  
P. Carajilescov ◽  
F. E. M. Saboya
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Mass Transfer ◽  
Heat Exchangers ◽  
Local Heat Transfer ◽  
Heat Transfer Analysis ◽  
Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Mass Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Fin Efficiency ◽  
Heat Transfer Coefficients ◽  
Experimental Apparatus

Heat exchangers consisting of finned tubes are commonly employed in air conditioning systems, air heaters, radiators, etc. Local measurements of mass transfer coefficients on fins, obtained by Saboya and Sparrow, are very nonuniform. In the present work, an experimental apparatus was set up to measure overall heat transfer coefficients for two-row tube and plate fin heat exchangers. The obtained results, together with Shepherd’s results for one-row exchangers, are used to transform the local mass transfer coefficients into local heat transfer coefficients. A numerical two-dimensional heat transfer analysis has been performed in order to obtain the temperature distribution and fin efficiency. The influences of the Reynolds number and fin material are also analyzed.

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