CFD Analysis of the Thermal Performance of the Cooling System Car (Radiator) for Different Tube Arrangements

Abstract

In this study, CFD simulation was used to evaluate the thermal performance for two cooling systems cars (radiator), it consists of tubes made of aluminum with a circular cross-section with outer diameter (6.43 mm) and regular fins. The arrangement of the first model tubes is an inline and the second arrangement is staggered. The article includes changing the arrangement of the tubes from inline to stagger, while changing the diameter of the tubes to use in an automobile radiator with a circular tube and regular fins. The coolant used is a mixture of water-ethylene glycol at a ratio of (50-50), The mass flow rate (12.24) L/h. and inlet temperature were (85, 90, 95)oC under laminar flow, and air was used as a cold fluid at a temperature of 35oC and at different velocity (1.5, 2.5, 4.5, 5.5) m/sec. The results showed that changing the arrangement of the tubes leads to obstructing the air currents that touch the outer surfaces of the tubes, thus taking sufficient time for heat exchange and leading to an increase in heat transfer rates and the overall heat transfer coefficient by up to (7.83%, 5.5%) respectively, among different temperatures and flows. Changing the diameter of the tubes to a larger diameter (7.8mm) leads to increasing the surface area of the tubes and thus increasing heat exchange and improving heat transfer rates by certain percentages.