Effect of Pump Performance Curves and Geometric Characteristics of Offset Fins on Heat Exchanger Design Optimization
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Offset fins are widely utilized for their significant heat transfer enhancement and compact size. However, they are also associated with a considerable pressure drop, which can substantially influence the coolant’s mass flow rate due to pressure loss. Therefore, assessing the thermal performance of various heat exchanger designs at actual mass flow rates, derived from the pump’s performance curve and the heat exchanger’s resistance curve, is crucial. This study analyzes several design cases to identify the optimum geometric structure of the offset fin, determined by two design factors: the number of fins in flow direction and the number of fins in vertical direction. Correlations for the Colburn j factor and the Fanning f factor, incorporating Nfin,v and Nfin,f, are established. The discrepancy between the calculated j and f factors and those obtained through CFD analysis was within ±10%. The impact of the pump’s performance curve on the heat transfer rate becomes more pronounced with increased pressure drop. When Nfin,f is 30, the ratio of maximum to minimum heat transfer rate was 8.73% with a constant coolant flow rate, but this ratio increased to 13.08% when considering actual coolant flow rate facilitated by a pump.
Source: Energies
DOI: 10.3390/en17184598
Institution: Pukyong National University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,955
OpenAlex ID: W4402520977