Experimental research on vibration-enhanced heat transfer of fin-tube vehicle radiator

Abstract

This paper proposes an application of a vibration-enhanced heat transfer technology to a fin-tube radiator to improve its heat dissipation efficiency. A wind tunnel test platform was set up under vibration conditions, and wind tunnel tests were performed under different parameter settings. Within the scope of the experiment, the total heat transfer coefficient and gas-side heat transfer coefficient increased by 1.89–11.71% and 2.98–16.82%, respectively. In addition to increasing the heat transfer coefficient of the radiator, the vibration increased the pressure loss. The pressure drop increased by 2.59–40.48%. A parameter B was defined to describe the effectiveness of the vibration-enhanced heat transfer. The results showed that B > 1, indicating that the benefits of enhanced heat transfer outweigh the cost of pressure loss. The convective heat transfer process of the radiator fins was simulated and analysed. The vibration increased the average heat flux density on the fin surface. Increasing the amplitude increased the average heat flux density by 22.92%. Increasing the frequency increased the average heat flux density by 51.50%. The vibration disturbance enhanced the heat transfer owing to the increase in the field synergy of heat exchange.