The thermo-hydrodynamic performance of an automotive radiator, used as the external heat exchanger of an auto air-conditioning system, was analysed and presented in this article. The radiator was a kind of cross-flow air-liquid compact heat exchangers with rectangular minichannels and louvered thin-plate fins. The radiator was installed in a secondary fluid loop of the vapour compression refrigeration unit in a custom auto air conditioning system. The refrigeration unit and its two secondary fluid loops were operated at different heat load conditions for summer conditions. Experimental data including temperatures, pressures, and flow rates were collected at steady-state conditions. Heat transfer and pressure drop correlations for the glycol-water mixture and air flowing through the radiator were presented and discussed. On the glycol-water side of the radiator, the enhancements inside the rectangular minichannels promoted turbulent flow and increased heat transfer in comparison with the smooth rectangular channels. The results showed that, even at low Reynolds number (less than 1000), the Nusselt number of the glycol-water flow within the minichannels was not constant but increasing with Reynolds number. This might be caused by the enhancements on the minichannel walls. On the air-side, the thin-plate fins were sandwiched between the two neighbouring parallel channels and louvered vertically along the air flow passages. These louvers promoted turbulence and reduced the boundary layer thickness of the air flowing cross the radiator. The results of this study may be used in the design of this type of minichannel compact heat exchangers because the experimental data were collected for operating conditions and flow rates that are typically found in automotive air conditioning systems.


    Access

    Access via TIB

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Thermal-fluid characteristics of an automotive radiator used as the external heat exchanger in an auto air conditioning system


    Contributors:


    Publication date :

    2005


    Size :

    9 Seiten, 10 Bilder, 2 Tabellen, 12 Quellen



    Type of media :

    Conference paper


    Type of material :

    Print


    Language :

    English




    Heat exchanger and radiator-condenser unit

    SCHONEBOOM SEAN | European Patent Office | 2019

    Free access

    HEAT EXCHANGER AND RADIATOR-CONDENSER UNIT

    SCHONEBOOM SEAN | European Patent Office | 2018

    Free access

    New Auto Radiator

    Tema Archive | 1973


    Heat exchanger assembly, heat exchanger and air conditioning system

    TANG LEI | European Patent Office | 2022

    Free access

    Thermal performance of automotive aluminium plate radiator

    Witry, A. / Al-Hajeri, M.H. / Bondok, Ali A. | Tema Archive | 2005