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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/J45954/01
Title: VORTEX GENERATOR HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT IN PLATE FIN-TUBE HEAT EXCHANGERS
Principal Investigator: Critoph, Professor R
Other Investigators:
Shaw, Dr C
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Pre Nexus Migration
Department: Sch of Engineering
Organisation: University of Warwick
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 August 1993 Ends: 31 December 1996 Value (£): 153,613
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Heat & Mass Transfer
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
Plate fin-tube heat exchangers for air-liquid (single phase) of air-refrigerant (two-phase) are used throughout the heating, refrigeration, air-conditioning, automobile and many process industries. The technique of adding fin features which shed vortives in a controlled fashion (vortex generators) to mix and redirect the airflow around the tubes offers the possibility of increasing heat transfer whilst decreasing pressure drop. There has been promising work on a particular embodiment of vortex generators (VG's) in Germany, but it may not be suited or optimal for HVAC applications.We will investigate the mechanisms of flow modification and heat transfer enhancement using flow and heat transfer visualisation, together with the use of a CFD package. Thus far CFD has not been used to model vortex generating heat exchangers (VGHE's) complete with tubes. Small sections of VGHE will be built and tested in our test facility, and full sized VGHE's will be tested by Copperad Ltd in their environmentally controlled test chamber. Copperad Ltd will also supply raw materials and use of their production facilities. We aim to establish the best form of VGHE for HVAC applications, improve our knowledge of their fundamental mechanisms, validate a CFD model, and devise reliable design methods to predict their performance.
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Organisation Website: http://www.warwick.ac.uk