Analysis of the thermal improvement of plate fin-tube heat exchanger with straight and curved rectangular winglet vortex generators

A novel combination of curved and straight rectangular winglet vortex generator (RWVG) pairs was arranged in a common-flow-up (CFU) configuration on plate fins for enhancing the comprehensive performance of the fin-tube heat exchanger. The effects of RWVGs were compared with those of non-RWVGs for flow streamline, temperature distribution, and pressure field. Then the thermohydraulic performance and the comprehensive performance were numerically investigated among the cases with varied locations and sizes of RWVGs. The results revealed that j for all cases with RWVGs was higher than non-RWVGs and the values of JF were greater than 1.0 for all cases except for case 4. Especially, apparent improvements in heat transfer characteristics and comprehensive performance were observed with the novel combination. Furthermore, it was found that the appropriate location and size of RWVGs were able to influence the thermohydraulic characteristic positively. The curved RWVGs with a smaller offset showed better comprehensive performance, and the larger attack angle of the straight RWVGs was accompanied by a higher heat transfer intensity and a greater flowing drag force. Moreover, the curved RWVGs with a larger arc angle performed better in the comprehensive performance, and the length of the straight RWVGs was larger and JF smaller.