Numerical modelling of air-cooler using simplified methods

Abstract

The fin-and-tube air coolers have been extensively used in refrigeration systems applied to cold storage chambers. The performance of the heat exchanger affects the efficiency of the systems and makes the study of heat exchanger becomes important. Prediction of the temperature, humidity, as well as velocity distribution in cold storage chamber requires accurate prediction of operation of the finned air cooler. The presence of the air cooler unit is usually taken into account by the investigators, but with very simplified geometry and physics. Results of numerical modelling using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software ANSYS FLUENT of fin-and-tube air cooler is presented in the paper. Two different approaches were used: the Dual Cell Model and porous media model.