Modeling of transient response of a plate fin and tube heat exchanger

In this paper, a new equation set describing transient heat transfer process in tube and fin cross-flow heat tube exchanger will be given and subsequently solved using the finite volume method. A numerical model of a single-row heat exchanger and double-row car radiator with two passes has been developed. Based on thermal and hydraulic measurements of a double row car radiator the experimental correlations were determined to calculate the Nusselt number on the air- and water-side. The results of numerical modeling reflect very well transient operation of the actual heat exchanger. A good agreement between numerical and experimental results was obtained. Using the method presented in the paper, one can build a mathematical model of a cross-flow plate-fin and tube heat exchanger with complicated tube arrangement.