Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers

Enhancing heat transfer in fin-tube heat exchangers is crucial for improving energy efficiency across various industrial applications. In this study, the effects of the position angle (α), attack angle (β), and size scale (ε) of ellipsoidal protrusions on the heat transfer characteristics of a fin-t...

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Main Authors: Mun Su Lee, Jeong Geun Gwon, Young Min Seo, Hoon Ki Choi, Yong Gap Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-10-01
Series:Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010305
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author Mun Su Lee
Jeong Geun Gwon
Young Min Seo
Hoon Ki Choi
Yong Gap Park
author_facet Mun Su Lee
Jeong Geun Gwon
Young Min Seo
Hoon Ki Choi
Yong Gap Park
author_sort Mun Su Lee
collection DOAJ
description Enhancing heat transfer in fin-tube heat exchangers is crucial for improving energy efficiency across various industrial applications. In this study, the effects of the position angle (α), attack angle (β), and size scale (ε) of ellipsoidal protrusions on the heat transfer characteristics of a fin-tube heat exchanger were numerically analyzed within the Reynolds number range of 1500–5000. Results showed that as α and ε increased, the vorticity generated downstream of the protrusions also increased. At α = 45°, heat transfer decreased as β increased, whereas at α = 67.5° and 90°, it increased with β. The Colburn j factor of fins with protrusions increased by 48.85 % compared to that of fins without protrusions at α = 90° and β = 40° with ε = 1.2. At α = 90°, both the Colburn j factor and the friction factor increased significantly; thus, the optimal position was identified as α = 67.5° and β = 40° with ε = 1.2, where the volume goodness factor was 25.41 % higher than that of fins without protrusions. These findings offer valuable insights for designing more efficient fin-tube heat exchangers, with implications for energy conservation in thermal management systems.
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issn 2214-157X
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publishDate 2025-10-01
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series Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
spelling doaj-art-520ec6cfc6ff4ca28e83faada6de9f052025-08-20T03:56:14ZengElsevierCase Studies in Thermal Engineering2214-157X2025-10-017410677010.1016/j.csite.2025.106770Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangersMun Su Lee0Jeong Geun Gwon1Young Min Seo2Hoon Ki Choi3Yong Gap Park4Dept. of Smart Manufacturing Engineering, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South KoreaDept. of Smart Manufacturing Engineering, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South KoreaHydrogen Electric Research Team, Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute, Changwon, 51140, South KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South KoreaSchool of Mechanical Engineering, Changwon National University, Changwon, 51140, South Korea; Corresponding author.Enhancing heat transfer in fin-tube heat exchangers is crucial for improving energy efficiency across various industrial applications. In this study, the effects of the position angle (α), attack angle (β), and size scale (ε) of ellipsoidal protrusions on the heat transfer characteristics of a fin-tube heat exchanger were numerically analyzed within the Reynolds number range of 1500–5000. Results showed that as α and ε increased, the vorticity generated downstream of the protrusions also increased. At α = 45°, heat transfer decreased as β increased, whereas at α = 67.5° and 90°, it increased with β. The Colburn j factor of fins with protrusions increased by 48.85 % compared to that of fins without protrusions at α = 90° and β = 40° with ε = 1.2. At α = 90°, both the Colburn j factor and the friction factor increased significantly; thus, the optimal position was identified as α = 67.5° and β = 40° with ε = 1.2, where the volume goodness factor was 25.41 % higher than that of fins without protrusions. These findings offer valuable insights for designing more efficient fin-tube heat exchangers, with implications for energy conservation in thermal management systems.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010305Fin-tube heat exchangerEllipsoidal protrusionVortex generatorAttack anglePosition angleHeat transfer
spellingShingle Mun Su Lee
Jeong Geun Gwon
Young Min Seo
Hoon Ki Choi
Yong Gap Park
Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
Case Studies in Thermal Engineering
Fin-tube heat exchanger
Ellipsoidal protrusion
Vortex generator
Attack angle
Position angle
Heat transfer
title Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
title_full Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
title_fullStr Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
title_full_unstemmed Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
title_short Ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin-tube heat exchangers
title_sort ellipsoidal protrusions for enhanced thermal performance in fin tube heat exchangers
topic Fin-tube heat exchanger
Ellipsoidal protrusion
Vortex generator
Attack angle
Position angle
Heat transfer
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214157X25010305
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AT jeonggeungwon ellipsoidalprotrusionsforenhancedthermalperformanceinfintubeheatexchangers
AT youngminseo ellipsoidalprotrusionsforenhancedthermalperformanceinfintubeheatexchangers
AT hoonkichoi ellipsoidalprotrusionsforenhancedthermalperformanceinfintubeheatexchangers
AT yonggappark ellipsoidalprotrusionsforenhancedthermalperformanceinfintubeheatexchangers