Numerical analysis on heat transfer enhancement by longitudinal vortex based on field synergy principle

Abstract

Three-dimensional numerical simulation results are presented for a fin-and-tube heat transfer surface with vortex generators. The effects of the Reynolds number (from 800 to 2 000) and the attack angle (30º and 45º) of a delta winglet vortex generator are examined. The numerical results are analyzed on the basis of the field synergy principle to explain the inherent mechanism of heat transfer enhancement by longitudinal vortex. The secondary flow generated by the vortex generators causes the reduction of the intersection angle between the velocity and fluid temperature gradients. In addition, the computational evaluations indicate that the heat transfer enhancement of delta winglet pairs for an aligned tube bank fin-and-tube surface is more significant than that for a staggered tube bank fin-and-tube surface. The heat transfer enhancement of the delta winglet pairs with an attack angle of 45º is larger than that with an angle of 30º. The delta winglet pair with an attack angle of 45º leads to an increase in pressure drop, while the delta winglet pair with the 30º angle results in a slight decrease. The heat transfer enhancement under identical pumping power condition for the attack angle of 30º is larger than that for the attack angle of 45º either for staggered or for aligned tube bank arrangement.