A second law analysis for turbulent convective flow through panel type radiator equipped with vortex generators

Abstract

An irreversibility analysis is arranged for the turbulent convective flow through the panel type radiator equipped with the vortex generators. Delta wing vortex generators are installed inside the system to disrupt the flow and enhance the heat transfer rate. However, vortex generator may affect the second law efficiency of the system, which should be investigated. The increase in the entropy production restricts the thermodynamic advantages of the vortex generators. The influences of several parameters, including the attack angle of vortex generator β, space between the back edge of vortex generator and hot surface of the panel, d, and Re number, Re, on the velocity and temperature characteristics, entropy production owing to viscous friction and heat transfer, and Be number are studied. The results attained by the present numerical investigation are validated with the data reported in the literature to ensure about the accuracy of the numerical solver. The outcomes revealed that the entropy production owing to viscous friction is increased with increasing the attack angel of vortex generators and space between the back edge of vortex generator and the hot surface of the panel. The larger values of entropy production owing to heat transfer are produced when the vortex generators are placed farther from the hot surface of the panel. Both entropy production owing to viscous friction and heat transfer increase with placing the vortex generators inside the panel. The substrate of high Be number grows along the panel length and occupies most of the panel at the exit section. By the way, the entropy production owing to viscous friction is dominate term at the entrance of the panel owing to the high velocity gradient of the developing flow regions.