Numerical determination of the gas-side average heat transfer coefficients in the fin-and-tube heat exchanger

Abstract

This paper presents the numerical method for the determination of the average heat transfer coefficient in fin-and-tube heat exchanger. The air side Nusselt number formulas are determined via the CFD simulation based method. The path of the gas flow across the inter-tubular space of this heat exchanger is complex, therefore the CFD simulations are used to determine the velocity distributions and the temperature field of air. The results of the numerical computations are compared with the Nusselt number formula based on the experimental data, which were obtained during the test of the car radiator. Good agreement between the numerical results and the results based on the measurements is achieved.