Some case studies of computational fluid dynamics heat transfer applications in industry

The air conditioning and thermal engineering industry, sensitive to the hopes arising from numerical modeling, uses more and more CFD. We describe hereafter three example applications in these industrial sectors : HEAT EXCHANGERS - In the various industrial processes requiring heat exchangers, we try to master the heat transfers and flows for economic purposes as well as for the quality of the products derived from these processes. DRY-COOLERS - Air flows, whose temperatures and velocities can vary considerably, go through the drycoolers. The air recirculation phenomena, the Vortex effect and heterogeneity are often met. In order to reach the expected uniformity, we utilized a numerical approach validated by experimental work. AIR CONDITIONING UNITS - These are very compact and it is essential to ensure a very good irrigation of the finned exchangers inspite of turbulent air trajectories. The operation of the unit has been analysed by laser tomography and a CFD approach. However, these very powerful calculation means require strict validation, adapted to each type of application. Used in this way, they can be very useful to the industrial world.