A local synergy angle of velocity, temperature and pressure fields for enhancement of comprehensive heat transfer performance

Abstract

The field synergy principles for convective heat transfer and flow resistance are integrated in this study. A local three-field synergy angle of velocity, temperature and pressure fields is proposed to evaluate the local comprehensive performance of heat transfer and pumping power consumption. The angle is based on the polar angle of a plot with dot products of velocity and enthalpy/total pressure gradients, respectively, as coordinates. The polar angle is then shifted by the observation that the enhancement of heat transfer rate at the cost of pumping power decreases from the second quadrant to the forth quadrant. The application of the synergy angle is demonstrated by examples of flow and heat transfer in channels with different fin structures. Inspired by the distribution of the synergy angle, Airfoil-Rect fin and Rhom-Rect fin structures are designed, which can improve the heat transfer rate with constraints of pumping power consumption. The present study provides a possible approach for heat transfer enhancement.