Conjugate heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in fin-tube heat exchangers with wave-type vortex generators

This paper studies the use of fins with embedded wave-type vortex generators to enhance heat transfer in fin-tube heat exchangers. An infrared thermovision is used to visualize the temperature distribution on the surface of a scaled-up plain fin and upon fins with embedded vortex generators. Numerical methods are used to investigate the conjugate heat transfer and to perform a 3-D turbulence analysis of the heat transfer and fluid flow associated with wave-type vortex generators embedded fins. The current results indicate that heat transfer and friction losses are strongly dependent on the geometric parameters of the vortex generators. This study identifies a maximum improvement of 120% in the local heat transfer coefficient and an improvement of 18.5% in the average heat transfer coefficient. Furthermore, it is found that a reduction in fin area of approximately 18-20% may be obtained if vortex generators embedded fins are used in place of plain fins. Finally, it is noted that the magnitude of the attainable fin area reduction increases for higher Reynolds numbers.