Effect of pin fins on heat transfer during condensation in minichannel heat exchanger
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, condensation heat transfer of water vapor in a minichannel heat exchanger on smooth and pin fins surfaces was investigated experimentally. The experimental study was carried out to evaluate heat transfer coefficient, overall heat transfer coefficient, and Nusselt number over different ranges of vapor mass flux from 0.0064 to 0.0368 kg m −2 s −1 and cold-water flow rate range between 0.0013 kg s −1 to 0.0057 kg s −1 . The minichannel has a rectangular shape with a hydraulic diameter of 1.3 mm. The experimental testing is carried out on aluminum surface with a channel that has a length of 270, width of 30 mm, and height of 1.3 mm. The pin fins surface is on the bottom of the condensing channel and the fins are circular and have diameter, height, and spacing of 1 mm, and are in-inline arrangement. It is found that condensation heat transfer coefficient on pin fins surface is about 15 % higher than that on smooth surface. It is found that the condensation heat transfer coefficient increases significantly with increasing the vapor mass flux. In addition, the effect of increasing the cold fluid flow rate is lower than that of the hot vapor flow rate, but it becomes more significant for higher vapor flux.
Authors: Fadi Alnaimat, Mohamed Daadoua, Bobby Mathew
Institution: United Arab Emirates University
Language: English
Subfield: Mechanical Engineering
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,010
Awards: G2093622437, G4722000183
OpenAlex ID: W4403458183