Prandtl number effect on offset fin heat exchanger performance: experimental results

This paper describes an experimental apparatus to study heat transfer and pressure drop of liquid-cooled offset fin compact heat exchangers (cold plates). Liquid coolants used in the test are water and polyalphaolefin, for which the Prandtl number ranges from 3 to 150. From the comparison with previ...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of heat and mass transfer 1995, Vol.38 (6), p.1053-1061
Main Authors: Hu, Sen, Herold, Keith E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Energy
Energy. Thermal use of fuels
Exact sciences and technology
Heat transfer
Mathematical models
Numerical analysis
Properties and use of thermal fluids
Q1
Theoretical studies. Data and constants. Metering
Water
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Summary:This paper describes an experimental apparatus to study heat transfer and pressure drop of liquid-cooled offset fin compact heat exchangers (cold plates). Liquid coolants used in the test are water and polyalphaolefin, for which the Prandtl number ranges from 3 to 150. From the comparison with previous air-cooled models, the liquid-cooled experimental data show that the Prandtl number has a large effect on the Nusselt number of the offset fin geometry. A numerical heat transfer analysis was performed to investigate the surface temperature distribution and uniformity of heat flux in the cold plates. The results demonstrate good agreement with experimental surface temperature measurements. The model results were used to guide data reduction procedures. In particular, significant end effects are predicted. Through experience with the heat transfer model, these end effects were isolated.
ISSN:0017-9310
1879-2189
DOI:10.1016/0017-9310(94)00220-P