Effect of triangular cross-sectional transverse wedge on the performance of an inline tube bundle heat exchanger.

In order to have a heat transfer per volume, heat exchangers have to have high overall heat coefficient. The effects of a transverse wedge on the heat transfer, the pressure drop, and the thermal efficiency factor (TEF) of air flow through a tube bundle heat exchanger was investigated. TEF increases continuously with the wedge aspect ratio (α). Form α = 0.275, 0.550, 0.758 to 1, TEF increases continuously from 1.157 to 1.84, 1.11 to 1.72, 1.05 to 1.42, and 1.02 to 1.39 for x/L = 1/3, 2/3, 1, and 0, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]