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Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization
van der Spuy, S. J. 2025. Parametric Modelling of Wavy-Finned Flattened Tube Performance for Application in Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Optimization. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/5572518f-6974-4fcc-b85c-36b50b4c1...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613885065854976 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes |
| author2 | Owen, Michael |
| author_browse | Owen, Michael Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes |
| author_facet | Owen, Michael Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes |
| author_sort | Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | van der Spuy, S. J. 2025. Parametric Modelling of Wavy-Finned Flattened Tube Performance for Application in Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Optimization. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/5572518f-6974-4fcc-b85c-36b50b4c19ff |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132363 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:43:14.822Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/132363 Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes Owen, Michael Pretorius, Johannes Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. Heat exchangers -- Fluid dynamics Cooling -- Equipment and supplies Thermal hydraulics Parametric modeling UCTD van der Spuy, S. J. 2025. Parametric Modelling of Wavy-Finned Flattened Tube Performance for Application in Air-Cooled Heat Exchanger Optimization. Unpublished masters thesis. Stellenbosch: Stellenbosch University [online]. Available: https://scholar.sun.ac.za/items/5572518f-6974-4fcc-b85c-36b50b4c19ff Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2025. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Most industrial thermal power plants utilize Rankine (steam) cycles. Effective heat rejection is essential to these cycles, through either water-, air- or hybrid cooling. Large-scale industrial direct dry cooling systems typically use wavy-finned flattened tube heat exchangers to reject heat to ambient air. A reduced order model of wavy-finned flattened tube thermohydraulic performance is developed in this work. The model is intended for application in tube optimization studies, particularly in the context of natural draft air-cooled condensers (NDACCs). A review of the relevant literature identifies suitable numerical and semi-empirical modelling approaches. These models are implemented and validated over laminar and transitional flow ranges against experimental data to highlight formulation strengths and shortcomings. Automated parametric simulations utilizing a transition SST turbulence model are implemented in Ansys Fluent to generate data for a response surface study of finned tube performance. Finned tube thermohydraulic performance data is used to calibrate various model forms, which are compared based on both aptness and accuracy. The semi-empirical formulation accuracies vary significantly (10−90% mean error), whereas the developed numerical model correlates to validation data with a mean error of ~2%. A 2ᵏ factorial analysis of fin spacing, fin thickness, wavy amplitude and wavy wavelength highlights spacing and amplitude as principal geometric design factors of interest. The final reduced order model follows a power law function of both hydraulic and geometric factors and is calibrated over parameter ranges relevant to NDACCs. The final model has an accuracy of 11.2% for pressure drop and 5.28% for heat transfer. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Meeste industriële termiese kragstasies bedryf Rankine (stoom) siklusse. Effektiewe hitteverwerping is noodsaaklik tot hierdie siklusse deur water-, lug- of hibriede koelingstelsels. Grootskaalse industriële direkte lug/”droeë”-verkoeling is gepas vir waterarme streke, en maak gebruik van golfgevinde plat buis hitteruilers om hitte aan die omgewing te verwerp. Onlangse navorsing ondersoek natuurliketrek luverkoelde kondensors (NTLK) as ‘n alternatiewe verkoelingsmodus vir industriële toepassings. Die huidige studie ontwikkel ‘n beperkte-orde model van golfgevinde plat buis termodinamiese verrigting. Die model is bedoel vir uiteindelike toepassing in natuurlike-trek luverkoelde kondensor (NTLK) modellering en optimering. Die literatuur word ondersoek om gepaste numeriese en semi-empiriese modelle te identifiseer. Dié sluit die identifisering van gepaste vorme van die semi-empiriese samestellingsasipmtoot- en magswetverhoudings in. Die modelle word geïmplementeer en gevalideer teen eksperimentele data oor die volle laminêre en oorgangsvloeireekse om formulerings se sterk- en swakpunte uit te lig. Geoutomatiseerde parametriese simulasies met die oorgangs-SST turbulensiemodel word geïmplementeer in Ansys Fluent om akkurate data te genereer vir ‘n reaksie oppervlakstudie van vinbuis verrigting oor die volle laminêre en turbulente vloeiregimes. Vinbuis termodinamiese verrigtingsdata word gebruik om verskeie modelle te kalibreer, wat dan vergelyk word op grond van gepastheid en akkuraatheid. Die semi-empiriese formulerings se akkuraatheid wissel aansienlik (10 − 90% gemiddelde fout), waar die numeriese model binne ~2% korreleer tot validasiedata. ‘n 2 𝑘 faktoriale analise van vinspasiëring, vindikte, golfamplitude en golflengte merk spasiëring en amplitude as geometriese ontwerpsfaktore van belang. Die finale beperkte-orde model is ‘n funksie van beide hidrouliese en geometrisie vinbuiseienskappe, en is gekalibreer met faktorwaardes van toepassing tot NTLKs. Die finale model het ‘n akkuraatheid van 11.2% vir drukval en 5.28% vir warmteoordrag en word voorgelê gereed vir toepassing in toekomstige NTLK modellering- en optimeringsstudies. Masters 2025-06-05T06:41:09Z 2025-06-05T06:41:09Z 2025-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132363 en Stellenbosch University xiv, 90 pages : illustrations application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Heat exchangers -- Fluid dynamics Cooling -- Equipment and supplies Thermal hydraulics Parametric modeling UCTD Van der Spuy, Sybrand Johannes Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title | Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title_full | Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title_fullStr | Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title_short | Parametric modelling of wavy-finned flattened tube performance for application in air-cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| title_sort | parametric modelling of wavy finned flattened tube performance for application in air cooled heat exchanger optimization |
| topic | Heat exchangers -- Fluid dynamics Cooling -- Equipment and supplies Thermal hydraulics Parametric modeling UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/132363 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT vanderspuysybrandjohannes parametricmodellingofwavyfinnedflattenedtubeperformanceforapplicationinaircooledheatexchangeroptimization |