Studies on Fanning Friction (f) and Colburn (j) Factors of Offset and Wavy Fins Compact Plate Fin Heat Exchanger–A CFD Approach

Abstract

The objective of this work is to address the uncertainties in the estimation of the Fanning friction (f) and Colburn (j) factors in a compact offset plate fin heat exchanger, and the generation of flow friction and heat transfer correlations in the form of f and j for compact wavy plate fin heat exchangers. A typical offset fin has been analyzed using FLUENT software (a general purpose computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation tool) for estimation of f and j data. These results are compared with the results of the available correlations in the literature and in-house experimental results. Uncertainties in estimation of f and j data are reviewed and the variations in the results are highlighted. In the case of wavy fin configuration, very limited correlations are available in the literature. Hence, with the objective of developing correlations, 18 different types of wavy fins geometries have been analyzed using a CFD tool to find out the f and j data in the laminar and turbulent regions. Multiple regression analysis has been carried out on the set of data to generate the correlations for f and j. These correlations have been compared with the experimental results of wavy fin reported in the literature.