Three-dimensional analysis of flow characteristics in a heat exchanger equipped with a perforated heat sink

Abstract

Finning or perforations are frequently used in heat exchange devices to increase the heat exchange between the contact surfaces and the surrounding fluid. Thus, the work undertaken in this paper is in the same context to search for a new design to improve the thermohydrodynamic performance of a heat exchanger.  In this context, the latter considered being equipped with a solid or perforated heat sink to identify the perforations' efficiency in optimizing the heat exchanger's performance. The thermohydrodynamic phenomenon governed by the partial differential equations system derived from the laws of conservation: continuity equation for mass, Navier-Stokes equations for momentum, and the energy equation. For the numerical solution, the finite volume method used, and the problem of pressure-velocity coupling intervening at the level of the Navier-Stokes equations solved using the SIMPLE algorithm. Calculations are made for a perforated deflector with different diameters and an unperforated deflector. For both cases, the inlet velocity was chosen in a range from 0.0018 to 0.009 m/s. The results are presented either as maps for the isothermal fields and velocity contours obtained for the meridian planes shown in the figures or as curves for the axial velocity and heat flow. Finally, a qualitative comparison of the different calculated results made, and it could deduce that a perforated deflector is much more efficient than a solid or solid deflector fixed at the same position. The increase in terms of transfers can go from 1.33% to 12.97%, and an excellent material reduction (from 2.32% to 55.85%) corresponds to a low flow resistance compared to the non-perforated case.