Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Performance of Corrugated Channel Heat Exchangers in Laminar Evaporation

Abstract

Channels with wavy walls are commonly used to improve heat transfer in heat exchangers by enhancing fluid mixing and increasing surface area. This study looks at heat and mass transfer during evaporation in sinusoidal and triangular channels compared to straight ones. The goal is to better understand how geometric parameters impact thermal-hydraulic efficiency for heat exchanger optimization. The study uses the finite volume method to solve equations for momentum, energy, and mass conservation, with SIMPLER algorithm for accurate results. Key parameters like wave amplitude, wavelength, and mass flow rate were analyzed to assess their effects on heat and mass transfer. Results show that sinusoidal channels have the best performance, with a 25-40% improvement over triangular ones. This is because sinusoidal channels create more turbulence, enhance fluid mixing, and offer a larger surface area. Performance also increases with wave amplitude, as stronger undulations result in better convective heat transfer. However, longer wavelengths lead to decreased performance due to reduced flow disturbance and thermal gradients.

Keywords

• evaporation
• wet wall
• corrugated channel
• wavy
• heat exchanger
• thermal-hydraulic performance

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