Effects of fin parameters on the thermal hydraulic performance of a vehicular radiator

Numerical simulation method combined with orthogonal design method was adopted to investigate the effects of fin parameters on the thermal hydraulic performance of a constructive vehicle radiator. From performance datas of 16 sample radiators with different fin geometric parameters obtained in simulation, the importance order and significance levels of these fin parameters affecting the radiator heat dissipation capacity and flow performance were achieved. Through the range difference and variance analysis, the correlation expressions between parameters and performances were fitted. The numerical simulation results coincide well in trend with the actually measured data in the wind tunnel test performed at the same time. That demonstrates the method used here may be adopted to predict the effects of fin parameters on fluid flow and heat transfer process in the radiator, and the design period and cost will be decreased.