Pareto Optimization of Heat Transfer Enhancement of Finned–Tube Heat Exchangers with Delta–Winglet Vortex Generators,

Abstract

For circular finned tubes often used in heat exchangers, the wake regions behind the tubes are regions with low heat transfer coefficient. Delta-winglet vortex generators on the fin surfaces reduce the width of the wake regions and improve the overall heat transfer rate. The present work studies numerically the effect of enhancing the performance of the finned-tubes using delta-winglets. Simulations were carried out on a model of three circular tube rows with circular fins for Reynolds numbers of 500, 700, and 900 (based on the inlet velocity and the hydraulic diameter of unit cell). Eighteen basic configurations with different number and positions of delta-winglets were investigated. The flow and heat transfer behaviors are analyzed for certain configurations. Finally, the optimal configurations are presented based on the Pareto optimality strategy.