Entropy generation and thermal performance of tubular heat exchanger fitted with louvered corner-curved V-baffles

The current article deals with an experimental study on entropy generation analysis and thermohydraulic performance of a uniform heat-flux tube equipped with louvered corner-curved baffle tape (LCBT). Air was drawn into the inserted tube for the Reynolds number (Re) between 4760 and 29,300. The V-shaped LCBT arranged by V-tip in downstream direction was introduced with three baffle pitch ratios (P-R = 1-2) and six louver angles (theta = 0-90 degrees) for a fixed attack angle (alpha) of 30 degrees and baffle height ratio (B-R = 0.25). The impacts of investigated parameters on the thermal enhancement factor (TEF), Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor (f), and total entropy generation (S'(gen)) were examined. The measurements showed that the LCBT with the smallest values of P-R = 1, theta = 0 degrees give the largest Nu and f at about 4.4 and 19.2 times above the plain tube values, respectively. However, the greatest TEF around 2.23 was seen for employing the LCBT at P-R = 1, theta = 45 degrees. The entropy analysis also showed that the S'(gen) is found to decline with the increment of P-R and theta, whereas the minimal S'(gen) is at P-R = 1, theta = 0 degrees for lower Re but at P-R = 1, theta = 45 degrees for higher Re. Furthermore, the Nu and f empirical correlations for employing LCBTs were also proposed. (c) 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This article presents an experimental study on entropy generation analysis and thermohydraulic performance of a uniform heat-flux tube equipped with louvered corner-curved baffle tape (LCBT). The impacts of various parameters on the thermal enhancement factor, Nusselt number, friction factor, and total entropy generation were examined. The results indicate that the LCBT with smaller pitch ratios and angles performs better in terms of thermal performance, especially at higher Reynolds numbers.