In the industrial and building sectors, various types of heat sinks are often used to improve heat transfer efficiency. Among them, finned tube radiator and optical pipe radiator are two common design forms. The construction and operating principle of these two heat sinks are different, resulting in differences in how they enhance heat transfer.
1. Enhanced heat transfer mode of finned tube radiator.
The design basis of finned tube heat sinks is the addition of fins to the ordinary base tube. These fins can significantly increase the surface area of the radiator, thereby enhancing contact with the surrounding air and improving heat transfer efficiency by increasing convective heat transfer. This enhanced heat transfer is mainly reflected in two aspects:
The first enhanced heat transfer: the presence of fins increases the heat exchange area per unit volume, i.e., the surface heat transfer coefficient is increased.
Secondary enhanced heat transfer: The turbulence effect formed by the fins changes the flow state of the fluid, increases the degree of turbulence, and thus enhances the convective heat transfer.
2. Enhanced heat transfer mode of optical pipe radiator.
Optical pipe radiators usually have a large pipe diameter (2-3 times the diameter of the radiator), and their main ways to enhance heat transfer are:
The large flow rate and high flow rate inside the large diameter pipe are used to improve the convective heat transfer effect. Because the larger the pipe diameter, the more fluid can be accommodated, and the velocity of the fluid is relatively high, which is conducive to heat transfer.
The inside of the pipe may be designed with a special shape such as a spiral or S-shape to increase the residence time and flow path of the fluid, which further enhances convective heat transfer.
3. Comparative analysis.
While both are designed to enhance heat transfer, finned tube heat sinks rely more on increasing surface area and forming eddy currents to improve heat transfer efficiency, while optical tube heat sinks make more use of high-velocity fluid movement in large diameter pipes. Therefore, when choosing a heat sink, you need to decide which type of product to use based on the specific application environment and needs.
In general, finned tube radiators are suitable for small space applications that require high heat dissipation efficiency, such as air conditioning, refrigeration equipment, etc.;On the other hand, optical pipe radiators are more suitable for use in large space heating systems, such as factories, warehouses, stadiums, etc., because their larger pipe diameter can provide higher heat output.