PFE-3 Prandtl Number Effect on Offset-strip Plate Fin via CFD

K. J. Farrell

2015

Using CFD simulations of laminar flow in an offset-strip fin geometry validated with experimental data, we have confirmed that the Colburn j-factor can be substantially overpredicted for fluids whose Prandtl number is significantly greater than that of air. In addition, we determined that the j-factor varies inversely with a Prandtl number raised to a fractional power. Our conclusion generally agrees with an empirical relationship in the literature derived from several data sets.