University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Vortex generator arrays in air-cooled condensers for power plant applications

Wong, Mei Yung

Content Files
WONG-THESIS-2016.pdf

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/93070

Description

Title
Vortex generator arrays in air-cooled condensers for power plant applications
Author(s)
Wong, Mei Yung
Issue Date
2016-07-18
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Jacobi, Anthony M.
Department of Study
Mechanical Sci & Engineering
Discipline
Mechanical Engineering
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2016-11-10T18:43:03Z
Keyword(s)
  • Vortex Generators
  • Air-cooled Condenser
  • Delta winglets
Abstract
This study presents a numerical analysis of laminar convective heat transfer in a rectangular channel with different configurations of delta-winglet vortex generators (VG). A low and high Reynolds number case of 225 and 1123 is simulated which is representative of the lower and upper limits of the air velocity range between 1-5 m/s in a typical air-cooled condenser (ACC) system. The effects of interacting and non-interacting vortices on the Nusselt number and pressure drop are observed for the two Reynolds numbers. The low-Re cases flow cleaner through the channel, pressure drop is slightly lower for the array in comparison to a straight-line formation for two VG pairs; however, the increase in Nusselt number is higher in the straight-line configuration. For the high-Re cases the vortices generated are stronger and persist longer and interactions between vortices in the array configuration lead to Nusselt number increases, but a higher pressure drop results. The straight-line configuration has an almost equal increase in Nusselt number and pressure drop. Recommendations are made to further explore the VG placement using different Reynolds numbers for constructive augmentation of the vortices as the vortex behavior and interactions are mainly a affected by the inlet flow velocity.
Graduation Semester
2016-08
Type of Resource
text
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/93070
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2016 Mei Yung Wong

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