Fin-tube heat exchanger performance for different louver angles

Abstract

To choose the proper design for a heat exchanger in engineering industry and to evaluate the finned surface performance it is important to calculate fin efficiency. The heat transfer conditions, in tube-fin heat exchangers, can be modified for instance by changing the fin shapes. The angle of louver inclination affects the fluid flow direction and it has the effect on the heat transfer and temperature changes. In the paper, the heat transfer is estimated numerically for fins with and without louvers to choose the optimal louver angle in the car radiator. Numerical analyses are carried out to examine finned tube heat exchanger and to determine the performance of the radiator for eight different louver angles. Solutions are obtained by means of ANSYS program. The tube material is kept fixed as well as the heat exchanger fin and tube pitches (spacing) and the inlet air velocity.