The optimum fin spacing of circular tube bank fin heat exchanger with vortex generators

Abstract

In real application, once the pattern of fin is determined, fin spacing of tube bank fin heat exchanger can be adjusted in a small region, and air flow velocity in the front of the heat exchanger is not all the same. Therefore, the effects of fin spacing on heat transfer performance of such heat exchanger are needed. This paper numerically studied the optimal fin spacing regarding the different front flow velocities of a circular tube bank fin heat exchanger with vortex generators. To screen the optimal fin spacing, an appropriate evaluation criterion JF was used. The results show that when front velocity is 1.75 m/s, the optimal fin spacing is 2.25 mm, when front velocity is 2.5 m/s, the optimal fin spacing is 2 mm, and when front velocity is higher than 2.5 m/s, the optimal fin spacing is 1.75 mm.