Numerical Analysis of Innerfins for Intercoolers

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to improve the performance of innerfins for intercooler use for automotive turbocharger engines. Since these intercoolers are used at high flow velocities, unlike other automotive heat exchangers, analysis of their unsteady nature is necessary. In this paper, a numerical analysis was conducted, taking into account flow instability, to determine how the fluctuation in the flow of the fin wake affects the efficiency of heat transfer of each rear fin. It was ascertained that the heat transfer enhancement of the fin is related to each fin space and Reynolds number, and that high heat transfer is obtained when the fin space is greater than three times the fin thickness.