Title: The effect of plate-fin types on the thermal-hydraulic and second law performances of a vehicle intercooler

Authors: Ahmet Yasin Sedef; Kemal Bilen

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, 06010 Ankara, Turkey ' Mechanical Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Ankara Yıldırım Beyazıt University, 06010 Ankara, Turkey

Abstract: In this study, five fin types namely, plain fins, louvered fins, offset strip fins, wavy fins and perforated fins utilisable in the design of vehicle intercoolers are theoretically examined. The aim is to see their effect on the thermal-hydraulic and second law performances of the intercooler. In the analysis, Ford Cargo TCI engine specifications are used to establish intercooler's operating conditions. Totally, 15 different fin geometries of five types are analysed. The results show that offset strip 1/9-24.12 fin provide highest thermal performance, with 99.8% effectiveness and 33.23 kW heat transfer while causing 12.57% pressure loss in the hot fluid. Conversely, plain 9.03 fin maintains the least pressure drop, 0.53%, but with effectiveness of 43.3%. For rational efficiency, plain fins possess highest values ranging 0.37 to 0.405. Moreover, as the hot fluid flow rate increases flow imbalance diminishes and thus rational efficiency increases up to a certain point.

Keywords: intercoolers; plate-fin heat exchangers; heat transfer; effectiveness; pressure drop; entropy generation; exergy analysis.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2018.095404

International Journal of Exergy, 2018 Vol.27 No.3, pp.287 - 310

Received: 30 Oct 2017
Accepted: 01 Jun 2018
Published online: 03 Oct 2018 *

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