Flow characteristic of staggered multiple slotted tubes in the passage of a fin tube heat exchanger

Abstract

The flow characteristics of inline and staggered cylinders placed in a fin tube heat exchanger model are experimentally investigated for Reynolds numbers of 1500 and 4000, having a duct height to cylinder diameter ratio of 0.4. In this study, the Reynolds number is calculated based on the cylinder diameter. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is studied to obtain instantaneous representations of the non-steady flow for a specified flow field. Time-averaged flow data clearly indicates that flow through semi-cylinders has a substantial effect on the turbulent flow characteristics. A variation of time-averaged flow data along a specific line is also presented graphically. The flow interactions in the streamwise and cross-stream bases of the staggered cylinders with a flat plate surface result in a three-dimensional and a complex flow behaviour. © 2013 Journal of Mechanical Engineering.