Study on the enhanced heat transfer and exergy performance of the finned tube heat exchanger with vortex generator

A widely used thermal management device, the finned tube heat exchanger, is known for its efficiency in industrial and commercial applications. This study employs numerical simulations to investigate the enhanced heat transfer and exergy performance of six distinct heat exchangers with fins: five equipped with vortex generators and one without. The novelty of this work lies in the propose and evaluation of a new vortex generator design-a curved vortex generator with cut bevels-that demonstrates improved heat transfer compared to traditional flat fins. The study also explores the effects of various vortex generator geometries and inclination angles on heat exchanger performance, a topic that has not been extensively investigated in previous studies. Key performance indicators assessed include temperature distribution, pressure drop, convective heat transfer coefficient, Colburn factor (j), friction factor (f), performance evaluation criterion (PEC), entropy generation, and exergy efficiency. The simulation results demonstrate that the integration of vortex generators significantly enhances heat transfer in finned tube heat exchangers. Among the various vortex generator configurations, rectangular vortex generators with a 60 degrees inclination angle exhibit the largest temperature difference, while those with a 90 degrees inclination angle are associated with the highest pressure drop. Moreover, rectangular vortex generators with a tangent plane cause a substantial obstruction to fluid flow. Overall, rectangular vortex generators show superior thermal performance compared to curved vortex generators, as evidenced by consistently higher PEC values. The findings underscore the significant enhancement of overall thermal performance and energy utilization efficiency in finned tube heat exchangers due to the presence of vortex generators.