Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of fin-tube heat exchangers with different types of vortex generator configurations

A fin-and-tube heat exchanger with three different types of vortex generators is investigated in this study in order to observe the effects of these vortex generators on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. The individual as well as the cumulative influences of the vortex generators on the performance of a heat exchanger are examined. The numerical analyses are performed using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) program named "Fluent". Firstly, each vortex generator type is placed at four different locations on the fin to determine its best location in terms of heat transfer and pressure drop values. After the determination of the best location on the fin for a vortex generator of each type, two different models with all three types of vortex generators are created and analyzed numerically. The investigation of the cumulative effect of three different vortex generators is the novelty of the study. The results of the study show that the use of three different vortex generators together increases heat transfer rate with a moderate increase in pressure drop value. The comparison of the present study results with an experimental and numerical study showed also a good agreement. © 2010 by Begell House, Inc