Numerical investigation of heat transfer augmentation through geometrical optimization of vortex generators

In this paper a two-dimensional numerical simulation of a steady incompressible and turbulent model has been carried out to study the effects of vortex generators in a compact heat exchanger in a curvilinear coordinate system. The mesh which is applied in this study is boundary fitted and has been smoothed by a Laplace operator. Experimental data of a former study has been applied to validate the numerical results. The effects of geometrical variation are studied by adjusting vortex generators’ inclination and relative cross location. The major issue of this study is the optimal trade-off by selecting an optimal geometric, considering the opposite influences of geometrical variation on Nusselt number and pressure drop.