Heat transfer augmentation in a plate-fin heat exchanger using a rectangular winglet

Abstract

RCAM Labs, SMU, Dallas, U.S.AThis study presents numerical computation results on laminar convection heattransfer in a plate-fin heat exchanger, with triangular fins between the plates of aplate-fin heat exchanger. The rectangular winglet type vortex generator is mounted onthese triangular fins. The performance of the vortex generator is evaluated for varyingangles of attack of the winglet i.e., 20, 26, and 37° and Reynolds number 100, 150,and 200. The computations are also performed by varying the geometrical size andlocation of the winglet. The complete Navier–Stokes equation and the energy equationare solved by the (Marker and Cell) MAC algorithm using the staggered grid arrange-ment. The constant wall temperature thermal boundary conditions are considered. Airis taken as the working fluid. The heat transfer enhancement is seen by introducingthe vortex generator. Numerical results show that the average Nusselt number in-creases with an increase in the angle of attack and Reynolds number. For the samearea of the LVG, the increase in length of the LVG brings more heat transferenhancement than increasing the height. The increase in heat transfer comes with amoderate pressure drop penalty. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Heat Trans Asian Res,39(8), 590–610, 2010; Published online 20 September 2010 in Wiley Online Library(wileyonlinelibrary.com). DOI 10.1002/htj.20318