Liquid Crystal Technique Application for Heat Transfer Investigation in a Fin-Tube Heat Exchanger Element

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Wierzbowski, M. | Stasiek, J.

Affiliations: Technical University of Gdansk, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdansk, Poland. e-mail: rwierzbo@pg.gda.pl | Technical University of Gdansk, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-952 Gdansk, Poland. e-mail: jstasiek@pg.gda.pl

Abstract: The use of thermochromic liquid crystal technique (LCT) and true-colour image processing system in heat transfer modelling is described. Experimental procedure, led on rig at Technical University of Gdansk, cover full-field flow patterns in heat exchanger element (flat plate with fine-tubes in-line, staggered and with vortex generators) describing local heat transfer coefficient and Nusselt number on the surfaces. Also the dependence of average heat transfer and pressure drop on Reynolds number and geometrical parameters is investigated.

Keywords: thermochromic liquid crystals, heat transfer, wind tunnel, vortex generator

Journal: Journal of Visualization, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 161-168, 2002