Development of a low Reynolds number enhanced heat transfer surface using flow visualization techniques

✍ Scribed by J.-H Ko; M.E Ewing; Y.G Guezennec; R.N Christensen

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2002
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 715 KB
• Volume: 23
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0142-727X
• DOI: 10.1016/s0142-727x(01)00140-0

✦ Synopsis

In this paper, an extensive flow visualization study was conducted to design and optimize a heat transfer surface suitable for compact heat exchangers operating in a low Reynolds number regime. The design of the new surface was achieved by carefully identifying possible enhancement mechanisms and choosing a geometry, which would promote these effects at lower Reynolds numbers than other enhanced surfaces. The new geometry, referred to here as a ''pin-fin'', provides excellent transport characteristics by generating strong, unsteady, and three-dimensional vorticity under all flow conditions.