| An innovative concept of generating streamwise vortices in offset-strip fin arrays has been investigated experimentally to seek air-side heat transfer enhancement. Flow visualization, PIV, naphthalene sublimation, and pressure drop measurements were performed for a baseline offset-strip fin array and six arrays enhanced with delta wing vortex generators (VGs) over a Reynolds number range (based on hydraulic diameter) from 400 to 3700, to obtain comprehensive heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop results and to develop a clear understanding of associated flow field mechanisms.;Array-averaged heat transfer enhancement is present for all enhanced arrays even at low Reynolds numbers, and it increases with increasing Reynolds number. The heat transfer enhancement reaches a maximum at Re ≃ 1000. The overall enhancement in this low Re range is caused by streamwise vortices only. As Re is increased beyond 1000, the array-averaged enhancement starts to decrease and reaches a minimum at Re ≃ 1630 for all enhanced arrays. Streamwise vortices suppress spanwise vortex shedding along the paths of their travel, and shedding is either delayed to higher Reynolds numbers or weakened in the regions adjacent to the streamwise vortices. This behavior causes the decreasing trend of heat transfer enhancement in this Reynolds number range. For Re ≥ 2040, the enhancement returns and increases as Re increases. The flow in the downstream part of the array becomes chaotic and exhibits turbulent-like features for both the baseline array and the VG-enhanced arrays. The heat transfer enhancement for the first three rows increases with increasing Re, due to the stronger streamwise vortices at higher Reynolds numbers, which contributes to the overall enhancement return and the increasing trend with Re.;The largest array-averaged heat transfer enhancement for the 2VG-enhanced array, 4VG-enhanced array, and 4VG at Rows 1 and 5---enhanced array is 7.6%, 16%, and 22%, respectively, which is accompanied by a pressure drop penalty of 0.4%, 25%, and 57%, respectively.;The re-generated streamwise vortices in the middle of the array are found to be weaker and decay more quickly in the flow direction than the streamwise vortices generated at the inlet of the array. |
