THE ROLE OF AN ELECTRICALLY HEATED FRONT COVER ON THE THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF A RADIATOR

The main aim of this work was to assess the possible improvements on the thermal performances of a central body radiator converted in a convector by the addition of a convex electrically heated front cover. A three-dimensional steady-state numerical analysis was performed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. The laminar flow regime was analyzed; a T-shaped finned central body temperature of 50°C and inlet air temperature of 19°C were imposed for all cases. The velocity and temperature distribution of air were evaluated at the inlet, central, and outlet sections for inactive cover and for four other different temperatures. Performances of the convector were investigated through energetic and exergetic analysis. For low cover temperatures a recirculation zone affects the plane-convex volume and turns into a localized inversion flow for increasing temperatures. Velocity and temperature profiles of air in the inlet, central, and outlet sections show that only the volume between the front cover and central body is significantly influenced by the temperature variation of the electrical resistance. A homogeneous temperature and velocity profile in the outlet section was achieved for thermal resistance temperatures of 50°C and 60°C.