variavel0=<b>MARCELO B. SAITO</b> - mbsaito@fem.unicamp.br UNICAMP
<b>Eugênio S. Rosa</b> - erosa@fem.unicamp.br UNICAMP
<b>Marcelo Moreira Ganzarolli</b> - ganza@fem.unicamp.br UNICAMP
<b>Abstract.</b> The pressure drop and heat transfer flux on an air-air heat exchanger employed as a cooling device for a closed cavity with heat dissipation are determined numerically. The analysis is further extended to optimize the cross section dimensions to render the maximum heat transfer rate at a given pressure drop. The heat exchanger is of rectangular cross section ducts placed side by side in counter flow turbulent regime. The duct walls are of smooth and flat aluminum. The conservation equations of mass, momentum and energy are solved with the k-e turbulence model using the finite volume code embodied on the PHOENICS 3.3. The heat conduction along the solid walls is considered employing conjugate heat transfer treatment. The simulations are performed for Reynolds number between 8000 and 150000. The pressure drop and heat transfer rate are determined and expressed in terms of dimensionless parameters. The analysis is further advanced determining cross section aspect ratio which gives the maximum heat transfer rate for a given pressure drop.
<b>Keywords.</b> heat exchanger, parametric analysis, turbulence, finite volumes.