A unified analysis on enhancing single phase convective heat transfer with field synergy principle

Numerical simulations were conducted to reveal the inherent relation between the filed synergy principle and the three existing mechanisms for enhancing single phase convective heat transfer. It is found that the three mechanisms, i.e., the decreasing of thermal boundary layer, the increasing of flow interruption and the increasing of velocity gradient near a solid wall, all lead to the reduction of intersection angle between velocity and temperature gradient. It is also revealed that at low flow speed, the fin attached a tube not only increases heat transfer surface but also greatly improves the synergy between the velocity and the temperature gradient. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.