In heat exchangers, especially those with the cross-flow arrangement, it is nearly impossible to achieve the uniform distribution of the working fluid in the tubular space with the currently used inlet and outlet chambers (in some constructions as well). The improper inflow conditions to individual tubes, including those with an elliptical cross-section - often used because of their favorable features compared to round tubes, is the cause of improper heat transfer. In this respect, transitional flow is of particular importance. This flow regime is complex and challenging to model. Therefore, it is necessary to perform experimental verification. For this purpose, an appropriate stand was built, allowing to investigate the flow of the working fluid (water) to the elliptical tubes in the cross-current heat exchanger. The paper presents the results of measurements for manifold geometry, which are currently used in practice (for heat exchanger constructions). The analysis of the measurement data confirms the nonuniform flow distribution to individual tubes of the heat exchanger.
Original scientific paper https://doi.org/10.2298/TSCI19S4323LCross-flow heat exchangers with elliptical tubes are often used in industrial application. In comparison with round tubes, the elliptical tubes have a better aerodynamic shape, which results in a lower pressure drop of working fluid flowing through the inter-tubular space of heat exchanger. Also, a higher heat flux is transferred from gas to the wall of such a tube due to the more intense heat exchange process. To prove this thesis, the values of the heat transfer coefficient from the wall of the elliptical pipe to the water flowing inside were determined, using the data from the conducted measurements. This study presents also research stand with a vertically positioned tube. In order to obtain a constant heat flux through the wall of elliptical tube, a resistance wire is used, evenly wound on the external surface of tube measuring section. The use of thermal insulation minimized heat loss to the environment to a negligible value. Installed K-type thermocouples allowed one to obtain, for various measurement conditions, the temperature distribution within the elliptical tube wall (for a given cross-section) and the water flowing inside it (in a given cross-section, at different depths, for both axes of the ellipse). The design of the stand allows such measurements in several locations along the length of the measurement section. The measurement results were used to verify numerical calculations. The relative error of the heat transfer coefficient value determined on the basis of CFD calculations using the SST-TR turbulence model in relation to the one determined on the basis of the measurement data is about 11%.
This paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation of flow distribution in the tubular space of cross-flow fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The tube bundle with two rows arranged in staggered formation is considered. A standard heat exchanged manifold, with inlet nozzle pipe located asymmetrically is considered. The outlet nozzle pipe is located in the middle of the outlet manifold. A developed experimental setup allows one to measure volumetric flow rate in heat exchanger tubes using the ultrasonic flowmeters. The measurement results are then compared with CFD simulation in ANSYS CFX code using the SSG Reynolds Stress turbulence model, and a good agreement is found for tube Re numbers varied from 1800 to 3100.
This paper presents the experimental and numerical investigation of flow distribution in the tubular space of cross-flow fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The tube bundle with two rows arranged in staggered formation is considered. A modified heat exchanged manifold, with inlet nozzle pipe located asymmetrically is considered. The outlet nozzle pipe is located in the middle of the outlet manifold, with a standard shape. An experimental stand allows one to investigate the volumetric flow rate in heat exchanger tubular space using the ultrasonic flowmeters. Various inlet mass flow rate i.e. 3 m3/h, 4 m3/h and 5 m3/h are considered. The experimental results are compared with CFD simulation performed in ANSYS CFX program using the SSG Reynolds Stress turbulence model. A relatively good agreement is found for tube Re numbers varied from 1800 to 3100.
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