Developed correlations for heat transfer and flow friction characteristics of louvered finned tube heat exchangers

3D turbulent flow numerical simulations were performed in order to develop correlations for heat transfer and flow friction characteristics in louvered fin and tube heat exchangers. A detailed sensitivity analysis was done on the effects of Reynolds number, fin pitch, longitudinal tube pitch and transversal tube pitch on parameters j/j0 and f/f0. Developed correlations are based on ratio of Colburn and friction factors of louvered fin heat exchanger to that of flat fin heat exchanger (j/j0 and f/f0) respectively which are much simpler than other correlations. Also, as it is expected, when louver angle approaches zero (flat fin), parameters j/j0 and f/f0 reach 1. This approach cannot be seen in previous developed correlations. The developed correlations can describe 100% and 86% of parameters j/j0 and f/f0 respectively among 186 numerical simulation data within ±15%. Optimum louver angle was also obtained by genetic algorithm using the developed correlations.