Offset Wavy Fin Heat Transfer Enhancement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current wavy fin heat exchangers have limitations in enhancing heat transfer performance due to their geometric configurations, which affect the efficiency of heat exchange between fluids.
Innovation Solution
A wavy fin design featuring alternately formed top and bottom parts with side parts extending in a longitudinal direction, creating a wave shape where ridges and valleys are repeated, with the front and rear parts offset in the width direction to enhance heat transfer performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the front and rear parts are offset in the width direction to enhance heat transfer performance, then the Nusselt Number increases by up to 92%, but the pressure drop increases by up to 70%
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure employs asymmetric offset between front and rear parts in the width direction, creating misalignment at ridges and valleys. This asymmetry generates abnormal flow zones with longitudinal vortices that enhance heat transfer (increasing Nusselt Number by up to 92%), while the controlled asymmetric geometry manages pressure drop characteristics through optimized flow path configuration.
2Temperature
If a wavy fin configuration is used to increase heat transfer surface area, then heat transfer performance improves, but the geometric parameters become more complex to optimize
Solution Approach 1:
The fin structure implements local quality variations through offset front and rear parts, where different regions (front part, rear part, side parts) have distinct geometric characteristics. The offset configuration creates localized abnormal flow zones at ridge and valley regions, optimizing heat transfer in specific areas without requiring complex global geometric parameters, thus simplifying the optimization process while maintaining high heat transfer performance.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The offset design increases the Nusselt Number by up to 92% and pressure drop by up to 70% compared to traditional wavy fin configurations, improving heat transfer efficiency while managing pressure drop.
Implementation Method 1
The flow in the wavy fin is dynamically formed while flowing along the corrugated shape of the fin, and is classified into a laminar zone, an abnormal zone in which longitudinal vortices occur, and a turbulent zone
Implementation Method 2
The flow in the wavy fin is dynamically formed while flowing along the corrugated shape of the fin, and is classified into a laminar zone, an abnormal zone in which longitudinal vortices occur, and a turbulent zone
Implementation Method 3
The offset design increases the Nusselt Number by up to 92% and pressure drop by up to 70% compared to traditional wavy fin configurations, improving heat transfer efficiency
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are a wavy fin, a heat exchanger having the same, an apparatus for manufacturing the same, a method of manufacturing the same, and a computer-readable recording medium storing the method. The wavy fin is configured such that top and bottom parts are alternately formed in a width direction while being connected by side parts, and the top, bottom, and side parts extend in a longitudinal direction so as to form a wave such that ridges and valleys are alternately repeated, and includes a front part in front of each ridge or valley of the wave in the longitudinal direction, and a rear part beyond the ridge or valley of the wave in the longitudinal direction. The front and rear parts are offset from each other in the width direction so as to be misaligned at the ridge or valley of the wave.