A numerical analysis of two-dimensional laminar flow over an elliptic tube bank

Fluid flow and heat transfer over a four-row elliptic tube bank having an axis ratio 2.83:1 are studied numerically. Flow is laminar, incompressible and two dimensional. The numerical results for the streamline, isotherm, Nusselt number and pressure drop coefficient are investigated in detail for different values of inlet frontal velocity ranging from 1.5 m/s to 5.5 m/s. It is found that the average heat transfer coefficient of elliptical tube bank is lower than 50% that of the corresponding cylindrical tube bank having the same tube perimeter, while the pressure drop for an elliptical tube bank is only 15% of the cylindrical tube bank configuration.