Thermal performance of a scaled-up louvered fin heat exchanger with unequal louver pitch

Abstract

We analyzed the thermal performance of louvered fin heat exchanger with equal and unequal louver pitch which continuously increased by 20% from air inlet area to the redirection region and difference of thermal performance of the louvered fin heat exchanger with unequal louver pitch was compared with that of equal louver pitch. The frost blocking of the spaces between louvers at front side of the louvered fin heat exchanger with unequal louver pitch was delayed and the time, the heat transfer rate of louvered fin heat exchanger reached 50% of the maximum heat transfer rate, of the unequal louver pitch louvered fin heat exchanger was also delayed than that of the equal louver pitch louvered fin heat exchanger. The operating time of louvered fin heat exchanger with unequal louver pitch was longer than that of equal louver pitch and the total heat transfer until reaching 50% of the maximum heat transfer rate increased at 18% than that of equal louver pitch.