Experimental study on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in a microchannel heat exchanger assembly with S-shaped fins

Abstract

Experimental studies on the water-to-water heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics of a microchannel heat exchanger assembly with S-shaped fins were conducted using the high-temperature and high-pressure water open experimental loop at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The effects of different Reynold numbers of both the hot and cold sides on the heat transfer and flow resistance characteristics were analyzed. Correlations for the Nu number and friction factor for both the hot and cold sides were gained based on the experimental data. The same Nusselt correlation was used for both the hot and cold sides, and the fitting results showed satisfactory accuracy, where the fitting error was within ±15%. The power-law scheme was used to fit the total friction factor correlations, and the fitting results showed a fitting error of ±15% and ±12% for the hot and the cold sides, respectively. The correlations proposed in this study can be used in the design of this type of heat exchanger.