Thermal performance and pressure drop of different pin-fin geometries

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to show the performance of hexagonal, square and cylindrical pin-fin arrays in improving heat transfer. In the present study, the thermal performance and pressure drop of the pin-fin heat exchanger are studied. The heat exchanger consists of cylindrical, hexagonal and square pin-fins. These types of pin-fins are capable of producing beneficial effects in transport enhancement and flow control. The pin-fins were arranged in an in-line manner. The relative longitudinal pitch SL/D=2 , and the relative transverse pitch were kept constant ST/D=2 . Air and water are used as working fluids in shell side and tube side, respectively. The inlet temperatures of air are between 50 and 90° C. The cold water entering the heat exchanger at the inner channel flows across the fin and flows out at the inner channel. Such pin-fins show potential for enhancing the heat transfer rate in pin-fin cross flow heat exchangers

Keywords

• thermal performance
• pressure drop
• cylindrical
• hexagonal and square ins