Numerical heat transfer analysis in turbulent channel flow over a side-by-side triangular prism pair

Heat transfer and flow behavior in a channel fitted with a transverse triangular prism pair is numerically investigated in the turbulent flow regime for the Reynolds number ranging from 10000 to 50000. The aspect ratio of channel height to the prism base is fixed at 4.0 throughout the study. The Navier-Stokes equation, along with the energy equation, is solved using a finite volume method with the SIMPLE technique and the QUICK numerical scheme for coupling the discretized equations while the standard k-ɛ turbulence model is used for closure of the problem. The numerical result reveals that heat transfer augmentation in the channel with the built-in prism pair can be obtained. It is observed that as compared to a channel, the heat transfer is enhanced by about 17% for a single triangular prism and by some 85% for a triangular prism pair mounted on the channel wall. Effects of the clearance between the prisms on the heat transfer augmentation are presented. The heat transfer enhancement is due to the vortex formation or recirculation zone downstream of the prism elements. However, the presence of the prisms also leads to higher values of friction loss over the channel.     

Turbulent heat transfer enhancement by counter/co-swirling flow in a tube fitted with twin twisted tapes

In the present study, the influences of twin-counter/co-twisted tapes (counter/co-swirl tape) on heat transfer rate (Nu), friction factor (f) and thermal enhancement index (η) are experimentally determined. The twin counter twisted tapes (CTs) are used as counter-swirl flow generators while twin co-twisted tapes (CoTs) are used as co-swirl flow generators in a test section. The tests are conducted using the CTs and CoTs with four different twist ratios (y/w = 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0) for Reynolds numbers range between 3700 and 21,000 under uniform heat flux conditions. The experiments using the single twisted tape (ST) are also performed under similar operation test conditions, for comparison. The experimental results demonstrate that Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor (f) and thermal enhancement index (η) increase with decreasing twist ratio (y/w). The results also show that the CTs are more efficient than the CoTs for heat transfer enhancement. In the range of the present work, heat transfer rates in the tube fitted with the CTs are around 12.5–44.5% and 17.8–50% higher than those with the CoTs and ST, respectively. The maximum thermal enhancement indices (η) obtained at the constant pumping power by the CTs with y/w = 2.5, 3.0, 3.5 and 4.0, are 1.39, 1.24, 1.12 and 1.03, respectively, while those obtained by using the CoTs with the same range of y/w are 1.1, 1.03, 0.97 and 0.92, respectively. In addition, the empirical correlations of the heat transfer (Nu), friction factor (f) and thermal enhancement index (η) are also reported.     

Influences of peripherally-cut twisted tape insert on heat transfer and thermal performance characteristics in laminar and turbulent tube flows

Effects of peripherally-cut twisted tape insert on heat transfer, friction loss and thermal performance factor characteristics in a round tube were investigated. Nine different peripherally-cut twisted tapes with constant twist ratio (y/W = 3.0) and different three tape depth ratios (DR = d/W = 0.11, 0.22 and 0.33), each with three different tape width ratios (WR = w/W = 0.11, 0.22 and 0.33) were tested. Besides, one typical twisted tape was also tested for comparison. The measurement of heat transfer rate was conducted under uniform heat flux condition while that of friction factor was performed under isothermal condition. Tests were performed with Reynolds number in a range from 1000 to 20,000, using water as a working fluid. The experimental results revealed that both heat transfer rate and friction factor in the tube equipped with the peripherally-cut twisted tapes were significantly higher than those in the tube fitted with the typical twisted tape and plain tube, especially in the laminar flow regime. The higher turbulence intensity of fluid in the vicinity of the tube wall generated by the peripherally-cut twisted tape compared to that induced by the typical twisted tape is referred as the main reason for achieved results. The obtained results also demonstrated that as the depth ratio increased and width ratio decreased, the heat transfer enhancement increased. Over the range investigated, the peripherally-cut twisted tape enhanced heat transfer rates in term of Nusselt numbers up to 2.6 times (turbulent regime) and 12.8 times (laminar regime) of that in the plain tube. These corresponded to the maximum performance factors of 1.29 (turbulent regime) and 4.88 (laminar regime).     

Thermal performance enhancement in tubes using helically twisted tape with alternate axis inserts

This article presents an investigation on heat transfer enhancement in a round tube inserted with a helically twisted tape. The effects of a helically twisted tape with alternate axis (HTT-A) on heat transfer, friction factor, and thermal performance factor behaviours are reported for the turbulent regime. HTT-A geometries are tape pitch to tube diameter, P/D = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0; alternate length to pitch length, l/P = 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0; twisted length to tape width, y/W = 3.0; and tape width to tube diameter, w/D = 0.2. The experiment has been performed by varying the volumetric air flow rate in order to adjust Reynolds number ranging from 6 000 to 20 000. The wall of the testing tube is uniformly heated as a constant heat flux while the tests are covered with thermal insulations to reduce heat loss to surroundings. Thermal performance is evaluated by comparing the present experimental results with the results of the modified HTT-A and also those obtained from previous study (conventional helically twisted tape, HTT). The thermal performance of tested tube with HTT-A is evaluated to obtain the degree of heat transfer enhancement and friction factor induced by HTT-A with respect to the plain tube under the same test conditions. Evenly, it is interesting to observe that the tube with HTT-A consistently possesses higher heat transfer and thermal performance factor than those with the HTT around 14.1% and 1.9%, respectively. The HTT-A with the smaller pitch ratio and adjacent twist length provides higher heat transfer rate and friction factor than the one with larger pitch ratio and alternate length as a result of a larger contact surface area, stronger swirl intensity and, thus, better fluid mixing near the tube wall. In the range determined, the tubes with the largest pitch ratio (P/D = 2.0) and smallest alternate length (l/P = 1.0) give the highest thermal performance factor at around 1.35. In addition, the empirical correlations of the Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal performance factor are also described.     

Thermal Performance Evaluation of Heat Exchanger Tubes Equipped with Coupling Twisted Tapes

The present work has been conducted to investigate the effect of coupling twisted tapes on heat transfer enhancement in a heat exchanger. The effects of (1) twisted tape orientation (co-coupling twisted tapes or counter-coupling twisted tapes), (2) width ratio, and (3) twist ratio were also examined. Results of coupling twisted tapes were also compared to those of a typical twisted tape. Experimental results showed that the use of counter-coupling twisted tapes resulted in higher heat transfer, friction loss, and thermal performance factor than that of co-coupling twisted tapes and typical twisted tapes. Thermal performance factor increased as twist ratio and Reynolds number decreased while width ratio increased.     

Heat transfer characteristics of decaying swirl flow through a circular tube with co/counter dual twisted-tape swirl generators

The influence of co/counter dual-twisted tapes (CoT/CT) on heat transfer rate in a circular tube has been investigated experimentally. In the experiment, the dual-twisted tapes are placed at the entry of the test tube in two arrangements: (1) each of dual twisted tape was twisted in the same direction that can produce co-swirl flow at the entry and (2) each of dual twisted tape was twisted in the opposite direction that can produce counter-swirl flow. Dual tapes were twisted in three different twist ratios (y/w = 3, 4, and 5) for generating different swirl intensities at the entry of the test section while the single twisted tape (ST) was also the test for comparison. The aim at using the dual twisted tapes is to create co/counter-rotating swirl flows having a significant influence on the flow turbulence intensity at the entry section leading to higher heat transfer enhancement. Average Nusselt numbers of CoT/CT are determined and also compared with those obtained from other similar cases, i.e., ST. The experimental results on the heat transfer rates indicated that the tubes with the dual twisted tapes (CoT/CT) are higher than those with the single tape at the entry section (x/D = 0 to 10). The heat transfer rates at longer distance became lower due to high interaction of each swirl. In addition, the mean Nusselt number and friction factor for the swirl generator created by the CT is nearly similar to CoT results.     

Heat transfer and thermal performance characteristics of heat exchanger tube fitted with perforated twisted-tapes

Twisted tape insert was applied as a swirling flow generator for the passive heat transfer enhancement in the present work. The influences of the perforated twisted tapes (PTs) on the heat transfer, pressure loss and thermal performance characteristics were investigated experimentally. The experiments were performed under uniform wall heat flux condition by using PTs with y/W?=?3, 4 and 5, d/W?=?0.11, 0.14 and 0.17 and s/W?=?0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 where y is a twist length, d is a perforation hole diameter, s is a spacing between holes (pitch) and W is a tape width. The experimental results reveal that Nusselt number increased with decreasing s/W and y/W and increasing d/W. For the present range, the maximum heat transfer was obtained by utilizing the tape with s/W?=?0.4, d/W?=?0.17 and y/W?=?3, which is higher than those obtained from the plain tube with and without typical twisted tape by around 27.4 and 86.7%, respectively. In addition, the empirical correlations for Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal performance are also proposed in the present paper.     

Silver–water nanofluid flow and convective heat transfer in a microfin tube equipped with loose-fit twisted tapes

Heat transfer enhancement and performance of compact heat exchangers have been extensively studied in the past century for the purpose of promoting energy efficiency. Microfin tubes in single/two/multiple-phase flow heat exchangers into which twisted tape swirl generators are installed can promote heat transfer with a moderate pressure loss penalty. This article reports on the enhanced heat transfer of silver–water nanofluids in a microfin tube into which loose-fit twisted tapes are installed in a counter-flow arrangement. The experiments were carried out using nanofluids with various silver concentrations (0.007–0.03 vol%), loose-fit twisted tapes with clearance ratios (c/D) of 0.0 (tight-fit), 0.05, 0.075 and 0.1, for a twist ratio, y/W, of 2.0. The results indicate that the heat transfer rate (Nu) and pressure drop (f) increase with a decrease in clearance ratio (c/D) and increase in silver (Ag) nanoparticle concentration. Additionally, the thermal performance factor tends to increase with the decrease in Reynolds numbers.