PARAMETRIC STUDY AND OPTIMIZATION OF CAST Al-Si ALLOY HEAT EXCHANGER USING TAGUCHI METHOD.

A 3-D numerical model of staggered pin fin array in cast Al-Si alloy heat exchanger was established. For further structural optimization, seven geometric parameters were studied by Taguchi method, including diameter, width, transverse spacing, longitudinal spacing, offset distance, slit length, and row number. The 32 cases with different geometric parameters were simulated numerically. The heat transfer characteristics, flow resistance characteristics, and overall performance were fully discussed. The diameter and transverse spacing have important influence on heat transfer characteristics, and the structural parameters that affect the resistance characteristics are diameter, longitudinal spacing and slit length. Then analysis of variance shows that diameter and transverse spacing have greater effects on the overall performance than other five parameters. At last, the optimized structure of staggered pin fin array was obtained, and j/f^1/3 increased by 1% to 3% for volume flow rate in the range from 0.03 to 0.11 m³/s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]