Experimental and CFD prediction of heat transfer and friction factor characteristics in cross flow tube bank with integral splitter plate

The experimental and the three-dimensional numerical simulation of cross flow tube bank in staggered arrangements with and without the splitter plate attachment is performed with (5500 ⩽ Re ⩽ 14,500) and splitter plate length to tube diameter (L/D) ratio as 1. The longitudinal and transverse tube pitch ratio SL/D and ST/D were maintained constant as 1.75 and 2.0 respectively. The provision of the splitter plate increases the Nusselt number for the fluid flow which results in the increase in the heat transfer along with the decrease in the pressure drop within the tube bank as compared to that of the bare cylinder. The overall thermal performance of the splitter plate attachment is much superior to that of the bare cylinder which indicates higher heat transfer with lower friction factor. An increase of maximum 60-82% in the overall thermal performance was observed by the use of the splitter plate over the bare cylinder at the Reynolds number of 5500.