HEAT-TRANSFER OPTIMIZATION IN INTERNALLY FINNED TUBES UNDER LAMINAR-FLOW CONDITIONS

In the present work the problem of optimizing the geometry of internal ly finned tubes in order to enhance the heat transfer under laminar fl ow conditions is studied. The velocity and temperature distributions o n the finned tube cross-section are determined with the help of a fini te element model, and a global heat transfer coefficient is calculated . A polynomial lateral profile is proposed for the fins and the geomet ry is optimized in order to make the heat transferred per unit of tube length or surface as high as possible for a given weight and for a gi ven hydraulic resistance. Finally, the optimum fin profiles obtained b y means of a genetic algorithm are shown for different situations. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd.