Two- and three-dimensional numerical models of flow and heat transfer over louvred fin arrays in compact heat exchangers

K. N. Atkinson, R. Drakulic, M. R. Heikal, T. A. Cowell

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    Abstract

    This paper presents a detailed evaluation of two- and three-dimensional numerical models of flow and heat transfer over louvred fin arrays in compact heat exchangers. Two 3-D models are described, both of which incorporate the effects of tube surface area and fin resistance on the overall heat transfer rate. Both of these features lead to a lowering of the predicted heat transfer rate per unit area compared with the 2-D model and, as a result, the 3-D models give predictions of overall heat transfer in better agreement with experimental observations. All of the models give accurate predictions of pressure losses, but it is argued that the superior heat transfer predictions of the 3-D models make them much more useful as design tools than 2-D models, even though they require much greater computing resources.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)4063-4080
    Number of pages18
    JournalInternational Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer
    Volume41
    Issue number24
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 1998

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