Finite Element Analysis of Wire-on-Tube Heat Exchangers Under Forced Convection Conditions

摘要

The analysis of wire-on-tube heat exchangers under forced convection operating conditions is carried out using finite element method. The effects of ambient temperatures and mass flow rates of the refrigerant and air are carried out to find out the performance of different heat exchangers of this category. The analysis also leads to the information about the adequacy of the number of tubes for complete condensation of the vapour under given operating conditions. The methodology adopted takes into account both the sensible and latent heat transfer taking place in the heat exchanger. The analysis developed is validated against the available data for cases where both sensible and latent heat transfer take place. Having established the validity of the analysis, the location of the tube for the initiation and completion of phase change was predicted. The analysis was continued for the process of sub-cooling taking place in the heat exchanger. The performance of the wire-on-tube heat exchanger is represented in the form of conventional non-dimensional numbers used in heat exchanger analysis i.e. ε -NTU curves.