A master thesis from Aalborg University
CFD Simulation of a Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchanger: Heat transfer, fluid flow, and turbulence model analysis using 3D open source CFD code
Author(s)
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2008
Submitted on
2008-12-15
Pages
89 pages
Abstract
Three-dimensional CFD simulations are carried out to investigate heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of a two-row plane fin-and-tube heat exchanger using Open FOAM, an open-source CFD code. Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the heat exchanger are investigated for Reynolds numbers ranging from 330 to 7000. Model geometry is created, meshed, calculated, and post-processed using open source software. Fluid flow and heat transfer are simulated and results compared using both laminar and turbulent flow models (k-epsilon, and Menter SST k-omega), with steady-state solvers to calculate pressure drop, flow, and temperature fields. Model validation is carried out by comparing the simulated case friction factor f and Colburn factor j to experimental results from the literature. For friction factor determination, little difference is found between the flow models simulating laminar flow, while in transitional flow, the laminar flow model produced the most accurate results and the k-omega SST turbulence model was more accurate in turbulent flow regimes. The most accurate simulations for heat transfer in laminar flow are found using the laminar flow model, while heat transfer in transitional flow is best represented with the SST k-omega turbulence model, and heat transfer in turbulent flow is more accurately simulated with the k-epsilon turbulence model. Reasonable agreement is found between the simulations and experimental data, and the open-source software has been sufficient for simulating the flow fields in tube-fin heat exchangers.
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