Performance Enhancement of Finned Tube Heat Exchanger using New Vortex Generator

Abstract

The present work aims to investigate a performance enhancement in an H-shaped finned tube heat exchanger using a new design of winglet vortex generator. The new design has an aerodynamic shape that reduces the pressure drop and enhances the heat transfer, resulting into an improvement in the overall thermo-hydraulic performance. A three-dimensional model is developed using ANSYS fluent to carry out simulations for Reynolds number varying between 5000 ≤ Re ≤ 11000 and to predict the net enhancement in the heat exchanger performance. The validation of the model is done using experimentally developed correlations of dimensionless pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics. Comparative results for the finned tube heat exchanger with and without vortex generator are presented. Results indicate a significant enhancement in the heat transfer characteristics of the finned tube heat exchanger with the new design of vortex generator. Volume goodness ratio and Colburn j-factor found to be 19.63% and 30.33% higher than the baseline finned tube heat exchanger without any vortex generator.