Numerical Study on Convective Heat Transfer from Elliptical Tubes in Crossflow

Abstract

This study presents a numerical study using Ansys Fluent software to investigate the convective heat transfer from elliptical tubes in crossflow. The primary objectives of the study were to examine the thermal and flow field characteristics of elliptical tubes in crossflow and establish a correlation between flow geometries and the thermal performance of elliptical tube heat exchangers. The scope of the study encompassed a range of parameters, including blockage ratio from 0.06 to 0.5, Prandtl number of 0.71, and Reynolds numbers between 5000 to 46000. Additionally, three different ellipse geometries were considered with aspect ratio is from 1 to 2.62. By employing numerical simulations, the study aimed to gain insights into the heat transfer characteristics of elliptical tubes under crossflow conditions. The results obtained from the simulations were utilized to establish correlations between the geometric features of the flow and the thermal performance of elliptical tube heat exchangers. The findings from this study contribute to a deeper understanding of convective heat transfer in elliptical tubes and provide valuable information for designing and optimizing heat exchangers utilizing such geometries. The obtained correlations offer practical guidance for enhancing the thermal efficiency of elliptical tube heat exchangers operating in crossflow conditions.