Modeling and experimental investigation on comprehensive performance of perforated wavy fins for heat pump type air conditioners at frosting and non-frosting conditions

Abstract Perforated wavy fin is a promising type of fin to improve the comprehensive performance of a heat pump type air conditioners (HPAC) which should work with high efficiencies at both frosting and non-frosting conditions. The purpose of this study is to propose a comprehensive performance model of perforated wavy fins for the fin design of HPACs. The comprehensive performance model of perforated wavy fins is established is established for analyzing the total heat transfer performances (UA) at both frosting and non-frosting conditions, and a novel frosting model is developed to predict the effect of perforated wavy geometries on frost performance. The optimal fin geometries are figured out based on the query charts plotted by the comprehensive performance model. A practical perforated wavy fin is designed and manufactured, and an experimental validation on the comprehensive performance model as well as the performance of proposed fin has been conducted. The experimental validation shows that the predicted results of UA and frost morphology are highly in accordance with the experimental data; and the heat transfer capacities of the perforated wavy fin at the frosting and the non-frosting conditions are 4.1% and 8.9% higher than those of the traditional wavy fin, respectively.