The Effects of Modified Turbulent Boundary Layers in Flexible Fins to the Heat Transfer Rates

Abstract

In this research, the vortex generators (VG) are discussed and then simulated by the utilization of ANSYS. With the larger shear around the flexible vortex generator (FVG), the formed vortices should have a larger circulation than the rigid vortex generator (RVG) and consequently higher mixing and mass transfer rates. Since the heat transfer from a solid wall to the fluid is strongly affected by the characteristic of the boundary layer, the result suggests that the rate of heat transfer is altered simultaneously. Therefore, this work analyses the extended application of the FVG on a heat transfer process such as in a novel heat exchanger design. The performance of FVG was compared with RVG, which was running in identical flow conditions, to highlight the differences and improvement. It was found that the FVG is capable of generating stronger vortices compared to the RVG, which in other words, the FVG has superior turbulence formation due to the stronger turbulence production at the boundary layer, hence better energy mixing for heat transfer enhancement.

Keywords CFD simulation, Heat exchanger, Heat transfer, Mixing, Turbulence