Multi-dimensional performance evaluation of heat exchanger surface enhancements

Abstract

Enhanced heat transfer surfaces allow more energy-efficient, compact and lightweight heat exchangers. Within this study, a method for comparing different types of enhancement and different geometries with multiple objectives is developed in order to evaluate new and existing enhancement designs. The method’s objectives are defined as energy, volume, and mass efficiency of the enhancement. They are given in dimensional and non-dimensional form and include limitations due to thermal conductivity within the enhancement. The transformation to an explicit heat transfer rate per dissipated power, volume, or mass is described in detail. The objectives are visualized for different Reynolds numbers to locate beneficial operating conditions. The multi-objective problem is further on reduced to a single-objective problem by means of weighting factors. The implementation of these factors allows a straightforward performance evaluation based on a rough estimation of the energy, volume, and mass importance set by a decision maker.