Numerical study on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of fluid flow in an inserted coiled tube type three fluid heat exchanger

The paper presents numerical investigations of a three fluid heat exchanger (TFHE), which is an improvement on the double pipe heat exchanger, where a helical tube is inserted in the annular space between two straight pipes. The helical tube side fluid, that is, hot water continuously transfers heat to the outer annulus side fluid and innermost tube side fluid. The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of the TFHE are assessed for different flow rates and inlet temperatures. With an increment in the volumetric flow rate of the helical tube side fluid and outer annulus side fluid, the overall heat transfer coefficient increases, and the effectiveness decreases for heat transfer from the helical tube side fluid to outer annulus side fluid in both parallel flow and counter flow configurations. It is also observed that with increment in the helical tube side fluid inlet temperature, the overall heat transfer coefficient and effectiveness increases for heat transfer from the helical tube side fluid to outer annulus side fluid in both flow configurations. The parameter, JF factor, has been proposed to evaluate the thermohydraulic behavior of the TFHE, where it is obtained that the behavior of the TFHE is better at a lower helical tube side fluid velocity and higher outer annulus side fluid velocity.     

An Investigation of the Potential of Improving an R1234yf Parallel Flow Condenser Performance Using Modeling and Hybrid Procedure of the Modified NSGA-II and TOPSIS

In recent years, compact heat exchangers have been used widely to increase the performance of automotive air conditioning systems. In the present work, a R1234yf parallel flow condenser is optimized to investigate the potential of performance improvement without changing the condenser dimensions including length, width, and depth. To achieve this aim, a one-dimensional finite element model is developed to predict the parallel flow condenser performance. The developed model is then used for optimization procedure after validating by the experimental data. The modified NSGA-II approach is applied to maximize heat transfer rate and minimize entropy generation number, refrigerant pressure drop, and air pressure drop as the objective functions. The non-dominated optimum design points are then plotted and trade-off optimum points are obtained using the technique for order of preference by similarity to ideal solution. Hydraulic diameter and flat tube arrangement are the most important design parameters in an independent two-objective optimization of heat transfer rate and refrigerant pressure drop and the optimized design variables result in heat transfer rate increase of about 1.4% and refrigerant pressure drop reduction of about 80.6%. However, the outcome of considering heat transfer rate as the only objective function is 5.2% increment in heat transfer rate. Such design points unveil significant optimum design principles that can be obtained only by using a multi-objective optimization approach.     

Numerical evaluation and the effects of geometrical and operational parameters on thermal performance of the shell and double coil tube heat exchanger

Heat exchangers are extensively used in various industries. In this study, the impact of geometric and flow parameters on the performance of a shell and double helical coil heat exchanger is studied numerically. The investigated geometric parameters include external coil pitch, internal coil pitch, internal coil diameter, and coil diameter. The influences of considered geometrical parameters are analyzed on the output temperature of the hot and cold fluid, convective heat transfer coefficient, pressure drop, and average Nusselt number. Water is considered as working fluid in both shell and tube. As an innovation, double helical coils are used instead of one in the heat exchanger. To compare the obtained results accurately, in each section, the heat transfer area (coil outer surface) is kept constant in all models. The results show that the geometrical parameters of double helical coils significantly affect the heat transfer rate.     

Numerical modelling of boiling heat transfer in microchannels

In this paper we report the results of our modelling studies on two-phase forced convection in microchannels using water as the fluid medium. The study incorporates the effects of fluid flow rate, power input and channel geometry on the flow resistance and heat transfer from these microchannels. Two separate numerical models have been developed assuming homogeneous and annular flow boiling. Traditional assumptions like negligible single-phase pressure drop or fixed inlet pressure have been relaxed in the models making analysis more complex. The governing equations have been solved from the grass-root level to predict the boiling front, pressure drop and thermal resistance as functions of exit pressure and heat input. The results of both the models are compared to each other and with available experimental data. It is seen that the annular flow model typically predicts higher pressure drop compared to the homogeneous model. Finally, the model has also been extended to study the effects of non-uniform heat input along the flow direction. The results show that the non-uniform power map can have a very strong effect on the overall fluid dynamics and heat transfer.     

Experimental Investigation on Flow Boiling Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop of HFC-134a inside a Vertical Helically Coiled Tube

An investigation on flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop of HFC-134a inside a vertical helically coiled concentric tube-in-tube heat exchanger has been experimentally carried out. The test section is a six-turn helically coiled tube with 5.786-m length, in which refrigerant HFC-134a flowing inside the inner tube is heated by the water flowing in the annulus. The diameter and the pitch of the coil are 305 mm and 45 mm, respectively. The outer diameter of the inner tube and its thickness are respectively 9.52 and 0.62 mm. The inner diameter of the outer tube is 29 mm. The average vapor qualities in test section were varied from 0.1 to 0.8. The tests were conducted with three different mass velocities of 112, 132, and 152 kg/m²-s. Analysis of obtained data showed that increasing of both the vapor qualities and the mass fluxes leads to higher heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops. Also, it was observed that the heat transfer coefficient is enhanced and also the pressure drop is increased when a helically coiled tube is used instead of a straight tube. Based on the present experimental results, a correlation was developed to predict the flow boiling heat transfer coefficient in vertical helically coiled tubes.     

Experiments and modeling of the hydraulic resistance and heat transfer of in-line square pin fin heat sinks with top by-pass flow

In pin-fin heat sinks, the flow within the core exhibits separation and hence does not lend itself to simple analytical boundary layer or duct flow analysis of the wall friction. In this paper, we present some findings from an experimental and modeling study aimed at obtaining physical insight into the behavior of square, in-line pin fin heat sinks. In addition to the detailed pressure measurements, the overall thermal resistance was measured as a function of Reynolds number and by-pass height. A “two-branch by-pass model” was developed, in which a one-dimensional difference approach was used to model the fluid flow through the heat sink and its top by-pass duct. Inlet and exit pressure losses were as important as the core pressure drop in establishing the overall flow and pressure drop. Comparisons were made with the data using friction and heat transfer coefficients available in the literature for infinitely long tube bundles of circular cross-section. It was shown that there is a good agreement between the temperature predictions based on the model and the experimental data at high approach velocities for tall heat sinks, however the discrepancy increases as the approach velocity and heat sink height decrease. The validated model was used to identify optimum pin spacing as a function of clearance ratio.     

Numerical simulation of fluid flow and heat transfer in a microchannel heat sink with offset fan-shaped reentrant cavities in sidewall

The paper is focused on the investigation of fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics in a microchannel heat sink with offset fan-shaped reentrant cavities in sidewall. In contrast to the new microchannel heat sink, the corresponding conventional rectangular microchannel heat sink is chosen. The computational fluid dynamics is used to simulate the flow and heat transfer in the heat sinks. The steady, laminar flow and heat transfer equations are solved in a finite-volume method. The SIMPLEX method is used for the computations. The effects of flow rate and heat flux on pressure drop and heat transfer are presented. The results indicate that the microchannel heat sink with offset fan-shaped reentrant cavities in sidewall improved heat transfer performance with an acceptable pressure drop. The fluid flow and heat transfer mechanism of the new microchannel heat sink can attribute to the interaction of the increased heat transfer surface area, the redeveloping of the hydraulic and thermal boundary layers, the jet and throttling effects and the slipping over the reentrant cavities. The increased heat transfer surface area and the periodic thermal developing flow are responsible for the significant heat transfer enhancement. The jet and throttling effects enhance heat transfer, simultaneously increasing pressure drop. The slipping over the reentrant cavities reduces pressure drop, but drastically decreases heat transfer.     

Pressure drop and thermal characteristics of CuO-base oil nanofluid laminar flow in flattened tubes under constant heat flux

An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of nanofluid flow inside horizontal flattened tubes under constant heat flux. The nanofluid is prepared by dispersion of CuO nanoparticle in base oil and stabilized by means of an ultrasonic device. Nanofluids with different particle weight concentrations of 0.2%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% are used. Copper tubes of 11.5 mm I.D. are flattened into oblong shapes and used as test sections. The nanofluid flowing inside the tube is heated by an electrical heating coil wrapped around it. Required data are acquired for laminar and hydrodynamically fully developed flow inside round and flattened tubes.The effect of different parameters such as flow Reynolds number, flattened tube internal height and nanofluid particle concentration on heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the flow is studied. Observations show that the heat transfer performance is improved as the tube profile is flattened. Flattening the tube profile resulted in pressure drop increasing. In addition, the heat transfer coefficient as well as pressure drop is increased by using nanofluid instead of base fluid. Furthermore, the performance evaluation of the two enhanced heat transfer techniques studied in this investigation shows that applying flattened tubes instead of the round tube is a more effective way to enhance the convective heat transfer coefficient compared to the second method which is using nanofluids instead of the base liquid.     

Numerical and experimental study of forced convection in graphite foams of different configurations

Forced convection heat transfer in a channel with different configurations of graphite foams is experimentally and numerically studied in this paper. The physical properties of graphite foams such as the porosity, pore diameter, density, permeability and Forchheimer coefficient are determined experimentally. The local temperatures at the surface of the heat source and the pressure drops across different configurations of graphite foams are measured. In the numerical simulations, the Navier–Stokes and Brinkman–Forchheimer equations are used to model the fluid flow in the open and porous regions, respectively. The local thermal non-equilibrium model is adopted in the energy equations to evaluate the solid and fluid temperatures. Comparisons are made between the experimental and simulation results. The results showed that the solid block foam has the best heat transfer performance at the expense of high pressure drop. However, the proposed configurations can achieve relatively good enhancement of heat transfer at moderate pressure drop.     

An empirical study on heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of CuO–base oil nanofluid flow in a horizontal helically coiled tube under constant heat flux

An experimental investigation has been carried out to study the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of nanofluid flow inside horizontal helical tube under constant heat flux. The nanofluid is prepared by dispersion of CuO nanoparticle in base oil and stabilized by means of an ultrasonic device. Nanofluids with different particle weight concentrations of 0.5%, 1% and 2% are used. The effect of different parameters such as flow Reynolds number, fluid temperature and nanofluid particle concentration on heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop of the flow are studied. Observations show that by using the helically coiled tube instead of the straight one, the heat transfer performance is improved. Also, the curvature of the tube will result in the pressure drop enhancement. In addition, the heat transfer coefficient as well as pressure drop is increased by using nanofluid instead of base fluid. Furthermore, the performance evaluation of the two enhanced heat transfer techniques studied in this investigation shows that applying helical tube instead of the straight tube is a more effective way to enhance the convective heat transfer coefficient compared to the second method which is using nanofluids instead of the pure liquid.     

Experimental investigation into the thermal-flow performance characteristics of an evaporative cooler

This study investigates the thermal-flow performance characteristics of an evaporative cooler. The derivation of the Poppe [1] and Merkel [2] analysis for evaporative coolers are presented and discussed. Performance tests were conducted on an evaporative cooler consisting of 15 tube rows with 38.1 mm outer diameter galvanized steel tubes arranged in a 76.2 mm triangular pattern. From the experimental results, correlations for the water film heat transfer coefficient, air–water mass transfer coefficient and air-side pressure drop are developed. The experimental tests show that the water film heat transfer coefficient is a function of the air mass velocity, deluge water mass velocity as well as the deluge water temperature, while the air–water mass transfer coefficient is a function of the air mass velocity and the deluge water mass velocity. It was found that the correlations obtained for the water film heat transfer coefficient and the air–water mass transfer coefficient compare well with the correlations given by Mizushina et al. [3]. Relatively little published information is available for predicting the air-side pressure drop across deluged tube bundles. The present study shows that the pressure drop across the bundle is a function of the air mass velocity and the deluge water mass velocity.     

Experimental Study on Subcooled Flow Boiling in Horizontal Microtubes and Effect of Heated Length

ABSTRACT

In this study, subcooled flow boiling was investigated in horizontal microtubes. Experiments were conducted using deionized water as the working fluid over a mass flux range of 4000–7000 kg m^?2s^?1 in microtubes with inner and outer diameters of ～600 and ～900 μm, respectively. Microtubes with lengths of 3, 6, and 12 cm were tested to clarify the effect of heated length on flow boiling heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics. A force analysis related to two-phase flow was conducted to understand the effect of forces on bubble dynamics. Pressure drop and heat transfer data in flow boiling were acquired. Experimental heat flux data were compared with partial boiling heat flux correlations, and good agreements were obtained. Pressure drop was larger in longer microtubes in comparison to shorter ones, while higher heat fluxes were obtained in shorter microtubes at the same wall superheat. Two-phase heat transfer coefficient increased with the microtube length due to lower temperature difference between wall temperature and bulk fluid temperature in longer microtubes. Higher heat fluxes achieved in shorter microtubes at the same wall superheat imply higher critical heat fluxes in shorter microtubes.     

Experimental investigation of turbulent flow and convective heat transfer characteristics of alumina water nanofluids in fully developed flow regime

In this paper the convective heat transfer and friction factor of the nanofluids in a circular tube with constant wall temperature under turbulent flow conditions were investigated experimentally. Al₂O₃ nanoparticles with diameters of 40 nm dispersed in distilled water with volume concentrations of 0.1–2 vol.% were used as the test fluid. All physical properties of the Al₂O₃–water nanofluids needed to calculate the pressure drop and the convective heat transfer coefficient were measured. The results show that the heat transfer coefficient of nanofluid is higher than that of the base fluid and increased with increasing the particle concentrations. Moreover, the Reynolds number has a little effect on heat transfer enhancement. The experimental data were compared with traditional convective heat transfer and viscous pressure drop correlations for fully developed turbulent flow. It was found that if the measured thermal conductivities and viscosities of the nanofluids were used in calculating the Reynolds, Prandtl, and Nusselt numbers, the existing correlations perfectly predict the convective heat transfer and viscous pressure drop in tubes.     

Flow structure and heat exchange analysis in internal cooling channel of gas turbine blade

This paper presents the study of the flow structure and heat transfer, and also their correlations on the four walls of a radial cooling passage model of a gas turbine blade. The investigations focus on heat transfer and aerodynamic measurements in the channel, which is an accurate representation of the configuration used in aeroengines. Correlations for the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop used in the design of radial cooling passages are often developed from simplified models. It is important to note that real engine passages do not have perfect rectangular cross sections, but include corner fillet, ribs with fillet radii and special orientation. Therefore, this work provides detailed fluid flow and heat transfer data for a model of radial cooling geometry which possesses very realistic features.     

A study on heat transfer enhancement using straight and twisted internal fin inserts

The present study investigated the effect of internal aluminum fins with a star-shape cross-section on the heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop in a counterflow heat exchanger. A concentric-tube heat exchanger was used with water as the working fluid. The heat transfer rate increased by 12–51% over a plain tube value, depending on internal fin configurations used. However, the pressure drop also increased substantially by 286–399%. The results showed that a straight-fin configuration is the best to produce a heat transfer increase in a counterflow heat exchanger. Twisted fin configurations did not further increase the heat transfer rate.     

Influence of internal channel geometry of gas turbine blade on flow structure and heat transfer

This paper presents the study of the influence of channel geometry on the flow structure and heat transfer,and also their correlations on all the walls of a radial cooling passage model of a gas turbine blade.The investigations focus on the heat transfer and aerodynamic measurements in the channel,which is an accurate representation of the configuration used in aeroengines.Correlations for the heat transfer coefficient and the pressure drop used in the design of internal cooling passages are often developed from simplified models.It is important to note that real engine passages do not have perfect rectangular cross sections,but include a comer fillets,ribs with fillet radii and a special orientation.Therefore,this work provides detailed fluid flow and heat transfer data for a model of radial cooling geometry which has very realistic features.     

Experimental Study of Heat Transfer Enhancement for Fluid Flow Inside Annulus with Spiral Wires

The evaluation of heat transfer and pressure drop in a water flow inside an annulus of a double concentric-tube heat exchanger with spiral wires inserts was carried out. Three spiral wires with a constant pitch and different wire diameter were tested for a Reynolds number from 1500 to 5500 and a Prandtl number from 5 to 8. The results obtained showed that the spiral wires increased the heat transfer and the pressure drop in comparison with a fluid flow inside a smooth annulus. From the heat transfer point of view, this increase was proportional to the wire diameter but the effect decreases when the Reynolds number increases. General empirical correlations based on dimensionless parameters to calculate the convective heat transfer coefficient and friction factor were developed with an uncertainty of ±6.1% and ±7.6%, respectively, when these estimates were compared against experimental data. The empirical correlations developed were also compared with the estimates calculated by empirical correlations proposed by other researchers, resulting in a good agreement with these values. After the validation analysis, it was demonstrated that the new equations developed provide a good and reliable tool for the design of double concentric-tube heat exchangers with spiral wires inserted inside annulus.     

The Effect of a Number of Baffles on the Performance of Shell-and-Tube Heat Exchangers

The number of baffles has an impact on the thermal-hydraulic performance of a shell-and-tube heat exchanger (STHX), thus a model was developed using Engineering Equations Solver software to solve the governing equations. The program uses Kern, Bell-Delaware, and flow-stream analysis (Wills Johnston) methods to predict both the heat-transfer coefficient and pressure drop on the shell side of an STHX. It was found that Bell-Delaware method is the most accurate method when compared with the experimental results. The effect of a number of baffles, mass flow rate, tube layout, fluid properties and baffle cut were investigated. The analysis revealed that an increase in the number of baffles increases both the heat-transfer coefficient and pressure drop on the shell-side. Increasing the mass flow rate, the heat transfer coefficient increases; however, the pressure drop increases at a higher rate. For a large number of baffles, the pressure drop decreases with an increase in the baffle cut. It also shows that the heat transfer coefficient increases at a higher rate with the square tube layout, whereas the rotated square and triangular layouts have approximately the same behavior.     

Experimental and Numerical Simulations of Flow and Heat Transfer in Heat Exchanger Elements Using Liquid Crystal Thermography

Experimental and numerical investigation of heat transfer and fluid flow were conducted for classic heat exchanger elements (flat plate with fin-tubes in-line, staggered and with vortex generators) and corrugated-undulated ducts under transitional and weakly turbulent conditions.The dependence of average heat transfer and pressure drop on Reynolds number and geometrical parameters was investigated. Distributions of local heat transfer coefficient were obtained by using liquid crystal thermography and surface-averaged values were computed. Three-dimensional numerical simulations were conducted by a finite-volume method using a low-Reynolds number k-e model under the assumption of fully developed flow. Computed flow fields provided otherwise inaccessible information on the flow patterns and the mechanisms of heat transfer enhancement.     

A study on the simulation and experiment of a microchannel counter-flow heat exchanger

Numerical simulations and experimental tests were carried out to study the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics for a rectangular-shaped microchannel heat exchanger. Moreover, influences of gravity to heat transfer and pressure drop behaviors of the microchannel heat exchanger were presented by variation of the physical inclinations of the microchannel heat exchanger system used for experiments. For experimental results, a heat flux of 17.4 W/cm² was achieved for the heat exchanger. Besides, the results obtained for the actual effectiveness and for the effectiveness (the so-called effectiveness-NTU method) were determined. In this study, the pressure drop decreases as the water temperature rises. As the pressure drop increases from 880 to 4400 Pa, the mass flow rate increases from 0.1812 to 0.8540 g/s. In addition, the results obtained from numerical analyses were in good agreement with those obtained from experiments, with discrepancies of the heat transfer coefficient estimated to be less than 9%.