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Characterization of Approach Air Distribution for a Finned-Tube Heat Exchanger

Published

Author(s)

David A. Yashar, Piotr A. Domanski, Hong H. Cho

Abstract

The distribution of air flow approaching a finned-tube heat exchanger is one of the predominant factors influencing the heat exchanger’s performance. This paper describes a method for measuring and predicting the inlet air flow distribution using Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) and a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model, respectively. The studied case was a single-slab, four-depth-row, louvered-fin heat exchanger installed vertically in a horizontal duct. A CFD model of the air flow through this heat exchanger was developed based on a momentum resistance modeling approach. The CFD results agreed well with the PIV measurements, predicting the local velocities within 3 % over most of the domain and within 10 % in areas with the largest velocity gradients.
Citation
Hvac&R Research
Volume
17

Citation

Yashar, D. , Domanski, P. and Cho, H. (2011), Characterization of Approach Air Distribution for a Finned-Tube Heat Exchanger, Hvac&R Research (Accessed March 28, 2024)
Created February 18, 2011, Updated February 19, 2017