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Abstract
Plate heat exchangers including offset-strip fins or dimple-type turbulators have a wide application in the automotive field as oil coolers for internal combustion engines and transmissions. Their optimization is a complex task since it requires targeting different objectives: High compactness, low pressure drop and high heat-transfer efficiency. In this context, the availability of accurate Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation models plays an important role during the design phase. In this work, the development of a computational framework for the CFD simulation of compact oil-to-liquid heat exchangers, including offset-strip fins and dimples, is presented. The paper addresses the modeling problem at different scales, ranging from the characteristic size of the turbulator geometry (typically µm–mm) to the full scale of the overall device (typically cm–dm). The simulation framework is based on multi-scale concept, which applies: (a) Detailed simulations for the characterization of the micro-scale properties of the turbulator, (b) an upscaling approach to derive suitable macro-scale models for the turbulators and (c) full-scale simulations of the entire cooler, including the porous models derived for the smaller scales. The model is validated comparing with experimental data under different operating conditions. Then, it is adopted to investigate the details of the fluid dynamics and heat-transfer process, providing guidelines for the optimization of the device.
Highlights
Plate heat exchangers are widely adopted in many applications, due to their simplicity, compactness and scalability [1]
The smallest scale is represented by the size of the small fins or dimples, usually to enhance heat transfer, thewhile largest is represented by the sizesize of the device
The simulation of the oil-cooler performance was addressed on the basis of the multi-scale
Summary
Plate heat exchangers are widely adopted in many applications (e.g., industrial, residential, transportation, etc.), due to their simplicity, compactness and scalability [1]. As a matter of fact, the progressive increase of the specific power of modern internal combustion engines has required a parallel improvement of the performances of the cooling system. In this context, the control of the oil temperature has become an important issue, leading to the introduction of dedicated cooling circuits in order to maintain the oil in the optimum temperature range, preventing its degradation, extending its useful life and, enhancing the engine lubrication [2]. The adoption of plate heat exchangers allows us to design compact liquid-cooled solutions in which the cooler is directly mounted on the engine block and integrated in the engine cooling system. The compactness of this solution is enforced by the Energies 2019, 12, 2965; doi:10.3390/en12152965 www.mdpi.com/journal/energies
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