Effect of lateral fin profiles on turbulent flow and heat transfer performance of internally finned tubes

Heat transfer performance of internally finned tubes with blocked core-tube was numerically investigated by the realizable k-epsilon turbulence model with wall function method using a commercial software FLUENT. Three kinds of lateral fin profiles, that is, S-shape, Z-shape and V-shape, were studied and compared. The corresponding correlations of Nusselt number and friction factor for different-shape internally finned tubes were obtained. The comprehensive performances of the studied tubes were compared under identical mass flow rate, identical pumping power and identical pressure drop conditions. It was found that tubes with S-shape fins and Z-shape fins were superior to that with V-shape fins, and moreover, tube with Z-shape fins had the best performance. The fin outer curvature radius R near the inner surface of out-tube for the S-shape finned tube had appreciable effect on heat transfer, whereas the fin inner curvature radius r near the outer surface of blocked core-tube had little impact on heat transfer. Hence, when manufacturing the internally finned tube with S-shape fins, it is better to select the outer curvature radius R as smaller as possible. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.