Effect of included angle on turbulent flow and heat transfer in rhombic serpentine heat exchangers

Abstract

Numerical studies of included angle effect on turbulent flow and heat transfer in rhombic serpentine heat exchangers are presented for the first time. Five included angles (γ) are examined, i.e. γ = 45-deg, 60-deg, 90-deg, 120-deg, and 135-deg, with rotation numbers (Ro) and coolant-to-wall density ratios (Δρ/ρ) ranging from 0 to 0.2 and 0.1 to 0.2, respectively, at a constant Reynolds number (Re) of 10,000. The Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations with low-Re realizable k-ε model and enhanced wall treatment are solved with the tradeoff between accuracy and computational cost. Code validations are performed through the comparisons with previous measured local Nusselt number ratio (Nu/Nu∞) and thermal performance factor (TPF) for both stationary and rotating channels. The results show that the value of γ significantly affects the flow fields and heat transfer behaviors in both stationary and rotating cases. In the stationary situation, the Nu/Nu∞ distributions on leading and trailing walls of the channels with slant walls (γ ≠ 90-deg) are asymmetric. As the channel rotates, there exists a critical rotating number, Roc, in between Ro = 0.1 and 0.2. Beyond Roc, f/f0 decreases with increasing γ. The friction reduction of 135-deg channel to 90-deg channel for Ro = 0.2 and Δρ/ρ = 0.1 is about 43%. Furthermore, above Roc and a critical Δρ/ρ around 0.2, the TPF increases with increasing γ, resulting in a 6% TPF augmentation when comparing the 135-deg channel with the 90-deg one.