EXPERIMENTAL ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECT OF COLD FLUID INLET TEMPERATURE ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A HEAT EXCHANGER

This paper focuses on the effect of inlet temperature of the cold fluid on the thermal performance of two mini channel flattube with multi-louvered fin compact heat exchangers experimentally. Two louvered fin heat exchangers in the same sizes with different number of fin rows are tested in a constant temperature test room by a wind-tunnel. The cold fluid flowing on the external side of the heat exchanger is air. The hot fluid flowing through the mini channels is water. The inlet temperature of the water passes through the mini channel flattube is predetermined and supplied at a temperature of 42oC. Mass flow rate of the water is regulated by a water circulator at a rate of 0.025 kg/s. The mass flow rate of the air is measured 0.0472 kg/s. It is found that the model which has two fin rows is more effective in terms of overall thermal conductance, number of transfer units and effectiveness at all values of inlet temperature of the air. In addition, both of the heat exchangers have the highest thermal performance at an air inlet temperature of 24oC.