An experimental study of the air-side performance of a novel louver spiral fin-and-tube heat exchanger

Kiatpachai P., Keawkamrop T., Asirvatham L. G., Mesgarpour M., DALKILIÇ A. S., Ahn H. S., ...More

Alexandria Engineering Journal, vol.61, pp.9811-9818, 2022 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 61
  • Publication Date: 2022
  • Doi Number: 10.1016/j.aej.2022.02.056
  • Journal Name: Alexandria Engineering Journal
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Compendex, INSPEC, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Page Numbers: pp.9811-9818
  • Keywords: Heat exchanger, Spiral fin, Louver fin, Spiral fin and tube heat exchanger, FLOW CHARACTERISTICS, THERMAL PERFORMANCE, MULTIPASS PARALLEL, PITCHES
  • Yıldız Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

© 2022We studied the effect of fin patterns on the air-side performance of a novel type of heat exchanger, namely louver spiral fin-and-tube heat exchangers (LSFTHXs). We investigated three types of fin patterns—radial, curved, and mixed-louver spiral fins—and compared their characteristics with plain spiral fin. We fabricated heat exchangers with a crimped aluminum fin base, two rows of steel tubes, and a fin pitch of 8.45 mm. All heat exchangers had both multipass parallel and counter cross-flow arrangements. The average heat transfer rate (Qave), heat transfer coefficient (ho), and pressure drop (ΔP) increased along with frontal air velocity. The louver-spiral fin provided greater Qave and ho than plain-spiral fin by about 9.7–15.6% and 13.4–27.1%, respectively. The j factors (Colburn factors) of louver-spiral fins were greater by approximately 10.4–13.1% (for mixed LSFTHX), 7.7–8.8% (for radial LSFTHX), and 2.1–5.1% (for curved LSFTHX) compared with the plain SFTHXs. Additionally, we found no significant difference in ΔP or f factor (friction factor) between louver-spiral and plain-spiral fins. LSFTHX configurations increased ho and j.