An investigation of cross-corrugated heat exchanger primary surfaces for advanced intercooled-cycle aero engines (Part-I: Novel geometry of primary surface)

• Published in: International journal of heat and mass transfer Vol. 55; no. 19-20; pp. 5256 - 5267
• Main Authors: Doo, J.H., Ha, M.Y., Min, J.K., Stieger, R., Rolt, A., Son, C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cross-corrugated primary surface; Devices using thermal energy; Energy; Energy. Thermal use of fuels; Engines and turbines; Entropy generation; Equipments for energy generation and conversion: thermal, electrical, mechanical energy, etc; Exact sciences and technology; Heat exchangers (included heat transformers, condensers, cooling towers); Intercooler; Cross-corrugated primary surface; Intercooler; Entropy generation; Nusselt number; Cooling; Geometrical configuration; Entropy; Modeling; Low Reynolds number; Wavy surface; Navier Stokes equation; Pressure drop; Heat exchanger; Numerical simulation; Incompressible fluid; Turbofan engine; Turbulence structure; Heat transfer
• ISSN: 0017-9310; 1879-2189
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2012.05.034

The present study aims to develop a novel cross-corrugated primary surface for an intercooler in an aero-engine. Cross-corrugated primary surface heat exchangers are proposed for such applications due to their relatively high “volume goodness” and thus the potential for light weight designs. In the present study, modified primary surface geometries were analyzed using three-dimensional numerical simulation. The fully developed airflow in a cross-corrugated matrix unit cell was modeled with a low-Reynolds number k–ε turbulence model using steady incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations. The numerical approach was validated against experimental data for conventional cross-corrugated surfaces. The calculated pressure drop and heat transfer capacity of the novel surfaces were assessed in terms of the Fanning friction factor and Nusselt number while the overall performance was estimated using the volume and area goodness factors. Finally, the investigation on the pressure loss mechanism was achieved through a simplified analysis of the entropy generation.