Using a spiral fin to replace a wavy fin in the condenser of an air conditioner

Abstract

An experimental and numerical investigation of an L-footed spiral fin's thermal performance for replacement of wavy fins used in condensers is presented. This condenser is used for air conditioners with a capacity of 2.64 kW–3.52 kW (9000–12,000 BTU/hr). Eight spiral fins with various fin pitches and fin diameters are studied. Each spiral fin is designed to have an area that is equal to that of a baseline wavy fin. The investigation found that the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop obtained with the wavy fin are greater than those obtained with a spiral fin. Moreover, the spiral fin gives a performance index or “goodness factor” that is about 0.2–11.9 % greater than that of a wavy fin.

Keywords

• CFD
• Condenser
• Heat exchanger
• Heat transfer enhancement
• Spiral fin
• Wavy fin