Effect of Boundary Layer Generated on the fin surfaces of a Compact Heat Exchanger on the Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics

컴팩트형 열교환기의 핀 표면에서 발생하는 경계층이 열교환기의 전열 및 압력강하 특성의 변화에 미치는 영향에 관한 수치해석적 연구

As a par of a project related to the development of the design algorithm of a compact heat exchanger for the application of the electronic home appliances, the effect of the discreteness of the airflow boundary generated on the cooling fin surface on the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the heat exchanger was studied numerically. In general, there are two critical design parameters seriously considered in the design of the heat exchanger; heat transfer rate(Q) and pressure drop coefficient(C/sub p/). Even though the higher heat transfer rate with lower pressure drop characteristics is required in a design of the heat exchanger, it is not an easy job to satisfy both conditions at the same time because these two parameters are phenomenally inversely proportional. To control the boundary layer thickness and its length along the streamline, the surface of the flat fin was modified to accelerate the heat transfer rate on the fin surface. To understand the effect of the discreted fin size(S/sub w/) and its location(S/sub h/) on the performance of the heat exchanger in the airflow field, the flat fin was modified as shown in Fig. 1. From this study, it was found that the smaller and more number of slits on the fin surface showed the higher energy diffusion rate. It means that the discreteness of the boundary layer is quite important on the heat transfer rate of the heat exchanger. On the other hand, if the fin surface configuration is very complex than needed, higher static pressure drop occurs than required in a system and it may be a reason of the induced aerodynamic noise in the heat exchanger.