Three-Dimensional Numerical Study of Fluid and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Dimpled Fin Surfaces

In the present study, a code based on the nonorthogonal curvilinear coordinates is developed with a collocated grid system generated by the two-boundary method. After validation of the code, it is used to compare simulated results for a fin-and-tube surface with coupled and decoupled solution methods. The results of the coupled method are more agreeable with the test data. Simulation for dimpled and reference plain plate fin-and-tube surfaces are then conducted by the coupled method within a range of inlet velocity from 1.0 m/s to 5 m/s. Results show that at identical pumping power the dimpled fin can enhance heat transfer by 13.8–30.3%. The results show that relative to the reference plain plate fin-and-tube surface, heat transfer rates and pressure drops of the dimpled fin increase by 13.8%–30.3% and 31.6%–56.5% for identical flow rate constraint. For identical pumping power constraint and identical pressure drop constraint, the heat transfer rates increase by 11.0%–25.3% and 9.2%–22.0%, respectively. B...