• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.398-403
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• 2000

Numerical analysis was conducted to investigate flow and heat transfer characteristics in louver fin exchanger, which were influenced by louver pitch, fin pitch, louver angle and inlet velocity. Standard $k-\varepsilon$ turbulent modelling was used in this study, and compared with laminar modelling. As a result of this study, Nusselt number became smaller as louver pitch or fin pitch was greater. Drag coefficient became smaller as louver pitch or fin pitch was greater, but it was little affected by inlet velocity.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.100-107
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• 2008

The heat transfer and friction characteristics of heat exchangers having convex louver fins are experimentally investigated, and the results are compared with those of wave fin counterparts. Eighteen samples (nine convex louver fin samples and nine wave fin samples) which had different fm pitches (1.81 mm to 2.54 mm) and tube rows (one to four) were tested. The convex angle was $11.7^{\circ}$. The j factors are insensitive to fin pitch, while f factors increase as fin pitch increases. The effect of fin pitch on f factor is more significant for the wave fin compared with the convex louver fin. It appears that the complex fin pattern of the convex louver fin induces intense mixing of the flow, and thus reduces the effect of fin pitch. Both the j and f factors decrease as the number of tube row increases. However, as the Reynolds number increases, the effect of tube row diminishes. Comparison of the convex louver fin j factors with those of wave fin reveals that convex louver fin j factors are 18% to 29% higher than those of wave fin. The f factors are 16% to 34% higher for the convex louver fin. The difference increases as fin pitch decreases. Existing correlation fails to adequately predict the present data. More data is needed for a general correlation of the convex louver fin geometry.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.120-139
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• 1996

Experiment was performed to study the heat transfer characteristics in 27 kinds of 15 : 1 scale models of multi-louverred fin heat exchangers with a wide range of variables(R $e_{Lp}$ =100~1, 800, $L_p$/F$p$=0.3~0.9, $\theta$=20$^{\circ}$~40$^{\circ}$). Thermofoil heaters were used to heat the louver fins and the local average Nusselt number for each louver in the louver array was obtained at constant wall temperature conditions. Correlations are developed to predict the heat transfer characteristics and drag coefficients. Generally, the heat transfer characteristics in the multi-louvered fins is shown to be similar to those of the laminar heat transfer on a flat plate. As the Reynolds number, the louver pitch to fin pitch ratio$L_p$/F$p$and the louver angle($\theta$) increase respectively, the average Nusselt number increases, but the variation of average Nusselt number as a function of the louver angle is smaller than that as a function of the louver pitch to fin pitch ratio. In case of$L_p$/F$p$ <0.5, the average Nusselt number of the 3rd louver is especially lower than the others, it is expected that it is due to the flow structure such as a recirculation flow and a flow separation.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.140-154
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• 1994

Experimental studies were performed to determine the characteristics of flow structure and pressure drop in 15 : 1 scale models of multi-louvered fin heat exchanger in a wide range of variables($L_P/F_P=0.5{\sim}1.23$, ${\theta}=27^{\circ}{\sim}37^{\circ}$, $Re_{LP}=50{\sim}2000$). Flow structure inside the louvered fin was analyzed by smoketube method and new correlations on flow efficiency and drag coefficient were suggested. The new definition for flow efficiency, which modifies the existing flow efficiency, can predict the flow efficiency in the range above mentioned and is represented as a function of Reynolds number, louver pitch to fin pitch ratio, louver angle at low Reynolds number. Drag coefficient which is defined here is a function of Reynolds number, louver pitch to fin pitch ratio, louver angle below critical Reynolds number, and can be represented by a function of louver pitch to fin pitch ratio only above the critical Reynolds number.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.116-126
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• 2002

A three dimensional numerical analysis of the corrugated louver fin for a vehicle heat exchanger was performed. The heat transfer rate and the air pressure drop of the corrugated louver fins for a slim heater were compared with experimental results at the same operating conditions. As for the slim heater fin, we found an optimum fin pitch at certain operating conditions. As the fin pitch increased, the air pressure drop decreased. The vertical or flat top fin was superior to the common declined fin in the aspect of heat transfer performance. As the louver length increased, both the heat transfer rate and the air pressure drop increased.

• International Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.156-162
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• 2007

Flow visualization experiments were conducted for two louver arrays having large louver pitch ratio ($L_p/F_p=1.0$ and 1.4). Flow efficiencies and critical Reynolds numbers were obtained from the data, and were compared with existing correlations. The correlations failed to predict the present flow efficiency data adequately; some correlation overpredicted the data, while others underpredicted the data. Large louver pitch ratio of the present model, which is outside of the applicable range of the correlations may partly be responsible. The critical Reynolds numbers obtained from the present flow visualization data were in close agreement with those obtained from the heat transfer tests on actual flat tube heat exchangers. Existing correlations on the critical Reynolds number generally overpredicted the present data.

• Proceedings of the SAREK Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.281-287
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• 2005

This study investigates the pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics of heat exchanger according to the combination of fin configuration and fin pitch of each row by the similitude experiments with the finned-tube geometry scaled as large as four times Finned-tube heat exchanger has 2 rows, and fin geometry consists of two cases, louver-louver and louver-slit. Fin pitch is varied with three types in each case, 6-6 mm, 8-8 mm and 8-6 mm. Results show that total heat transfer can be occurred evenly at each row by varying the fin pitch of 1st row and 2nd row. Heat transfer rate and pressure drop characteristics change according to the combination for fin geometry and fin pitch.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.26 no.12
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• pp.1681-1691
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• 2002

The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of heat exchangers with louver fins were experimentally investigated. The samples had small fin pitches (1.0 mm to 1.4 mm), and experiments were conducted up to a very low frontal air velocity (as low as 0.3 m/s). At a certain Reynolds number (critical Reynolds number), the flattening of the heat transfer coefficient curve was observed. The critical Reynolds number was insensitive to the louver angle, and decreased as the louver pitch to fin pitch ratio (L$_{p}$F$_{p}$) decreased. Existing correlations on the critical Reynolds number did not adequately predict the data. It is suggested that, for proper assessment of the heat transfer behavior, the louver pattern in addition to the flow characterization need to be considered. The heat transfer coefficient increased as the fin pitch decreased. At low Reynolds numbers, however, the trend was reversed. Possible explanation is provided considering the louver pattern between neighboring fins. Different from the heat transfer coefficient, the friction factor did not show the flattening characteristic. The reason may be attributed to the form drag by louvers, which offsets the decreased skin friction at a low Reynolds number. The friction factor increased as the fin pitch decreased and the louver angle increased. A new correlation predicted 92% of the heat transfer coefficient and 90% of the friction factor within $\pm$10%.10%.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.485-492
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• 2002

Heat transfer and pressure drop on the air side of a plate-louvered fin heat exchanger with new shape of louver fin have been investigated experimentally. Water is employed inside the flat tube to transfer heat with air for convenience. This problem is of particular interest in the design of a plate-louvered heat exchanger. The effect of air flow rate, water flow rate and water temperature on pressure drop as well as heat transfer in air side are studied in detail. The present results showed a good agreement qualitatively with the previous results in general. Based on the experimental data, f-factor and j -factor correlations of the present louvered-fin are suggested. It is also found that heat transfer could be enhanced with new shape of louver fin, compared with the conventional louvered-fin, while the f-factor remains unchanged.

• Korean Journal of Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Engineering
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• v.25 no.12
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• pp.654-659
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• 2013

This paper presents a numerical optimization of louvered fins to enhance the JF factor in terms of the design parameters, including the fin pitch, the number of louvers, the louver angle, the fin thickness, and the re-direction louver length. We carried out a parametric study to select the three most important parameters affecting the JF factor, which were the fin pitch, number of louvers, and the louver angle. We optimally designed the louvered fin by using 3rd-order full factorial design, the kriging method, and a micro genetic algorithm. Consequently, the JF factor of the optimum model increased by 16% compared to that of the base model. Moreover, the optimum model reduced the pressure drop by 17% with a comparable heat transfer rate.