Experimental analysis and computational simulation of heat transfer in a radiator

Abstract

This study analyzes the thermal performance of a 4.1 dm3 engine radiator through experimental tests and CFD simulations using ANSYS Fluent. The effects of materials, tube geometry, and flow conditions on heat transfer and thermal efficiency were evaluated. The results show that copper tubes enhance heat transfer by 18% but increase pressure drop by 4.44%. Additionally, increasing air velocity improves thermal efficiency by 3.74%, suggesting that specific improvements in fin design could enhance performance without increasing energy consumption. The study validates the use of CFD as a reliable tool for analyzing cooling systems in engines, benefiting the automotive industry with more efficient radiators. These improvements can be extended to hybrid and electric vehicles, as well as industrial heat exchangers, contributing to more sustainable thermal management. The main scientific contributions of this work are: (i) the experimental validation of a CFD model applied to an automotive radiator under transitional flow regime, (ii) the quantitative evaluation of the effects of copper tubes on thermal efficiency and pressure drop, and (iii) the detailed analysis of air velocity impact on heat transfer and its implications for radiator thermal design.