**Analysis of Heat Transfer in an Experimental Heat Exchanger Using Numerical Simulation**

Laura L. Castro, Alfredo Aranda and Gustavo Urquiza

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/63957

#### **Abstract**

In this chapter, an analysis of convection heat transfer in an experimental heat exchanger using experimental data and numerical simulation data (by means **computational fluid dynamics** (CFD)) is presented. Work was realized in four stages. In the first stage, experimental data were obtained from a heat exchanger installed in Thermohydraulic Laboratory from CIICAp. Analytic calculus with experimental data was realized in the second stage to establish proper values in boundary and operation conditions for numerical simulation. The third stage includes numerical simulation using CFD of the heat exchanger domain with both working fluids (air-water). At the fourth stage, an analysis of the results was performed.

The obtained results are a fair representation of theoretical behavior since phenomena such as thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layers can be observed, which are in function of the flow, either laminar or turbulent. The production of vortices in the case of air in the area of wake is also observed, all this information is useful for optimiza‐ tion and to propose other arrangements that are to be studied in order to achieve improvements in efficiency of heat exchanger. The averaged errors between analytical calculus estimated using experimental data and numerical simulations did not exceed 20%. The ratio between simulation and real heat exchange is 85%.

**Keywords:** Heat Exchanger, Heat Transfer, computational fluid dynamics, CFD
