Abstract
The flow and thermal phenomena in flat tubes of radiator are analyzed numerically. To predict the characteristics of heat transfer and pressure drop, the flow analysis program for three-dimensional complex geometry is developed, which adopted an non-staggered grid system and Cartesian velocities as dependent variables of the momentum equations. Using the developed program, the effect of tube specifications on the heat transfer characteristics is investigated for various flat tubes. From this study, the following results are obtained; (1) For the same hydraulic diameter($D_h{\doteq}5.2$mm), the Nusselt numbers of three basic modeis(D, J, and H-model) are 8.71, 8.92, and 10.58, respectively, and the pressure drops of D-, J-, and H-model are predicted as $-3.08{\times}10^{-2}\;Pa,\;-3.12{\times}10^{-2}\;Pa,\;and\; -3.98{\times}10^{-2}$ Pa, (2) In case of the same flat tube specification, the fins must be brazed at upper tube surface because the heat is more vividly transferred. Therefore, it is found that the H- model is the most effective tube as a heat exchanger and these results are used as a fundamental data for the design of tube.