A numerical investigation of the geometric effects on the performance of plate finned-tube heat exchanger

This study numerically examines the geometric parameters on the performance of a two-row fin-and-tube heat exchanger. Effects of fin pitch, tube pitch, fin thickness, and tube diameter are termed with. The simulation indicates that the performance, in terms of Q/Delta P and COP, increases with longitudinal tube pitch or with transverse tube pitch, and it decreases with larger tube diameter or fin thickness. An optimum value for Q/Delta P occurs at a 6-8 fpi at a fixed flow rate condition. There is not much difference in choosing the index of Q/Delta P or COP under fixed flow rate condition. However, when the simulation are performed with the actual axial fan whose P-Q curve being implemented. It is found that Q/Delta P peaks at 12 fpi while COP peaks at 16 fpi. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.