A numerical study of turbulent flow and conjugate heat transfer in concentric annuli with moving inner rod

A numerical study is conducted to investigate turbulent flow and conjugate heat transfer in a concentric annulus with a heated inner cylinder moving in the streamwise direction. A modified two-equation k-ε model with low Reynolds number treatment near wall is employed to model the Reynolds stress and turbulent thermal field which are based on Boussinesq’s approximation. The governing equations are numerically resolved by means of a hybrid finite analysis method. A uniform inlet flow and thermal conditions are specified to consider the effects of entrance of both solid and fluid regions. For a constant Prandtl number of 6.99 of water flow, calculating results of the time-averaged streamwise velocity, turbulent viscosity and temperature field are obtained for the Reynolds numbers from 1.0 × 10⁴ to 5.0 × 10⁵, rod velocity ratio between 0 and 1.0, and the radius ratio ranging from 0.286 to 0.750. The parametric studies show that the bigger rod speed ratio or the radius ratio is, the temperature is higher within solid rod. For a certain absolute rod speed, temperature profile diminishes at both sides of solid rod and fluid as Reynolds number grows. Numerical results also show that compared with the case of β=0 where solid rod is stationary, for large rod speed ratio the averaged axial velocity and turbulent viscosity profiles have substantial deformations, that is, the gradient of averaged axial velocity and turbulent viscosity near rod surface greatly reduced by the axial movement of solid rod.     

Prediction of friction factors and heat transfer coefficients for turbulent flow in corrugated tubes combined with twisted tape inserts. Part 2: heat transfer coefficients

A simple mathematical model following the suggestion of Smithberg and Landis has been created to predict the heat transfer coefficients for the case of a fully developed turbulent flow in a spirally corrugated tube combined with a twisted tape insert. The heat transfer can be predicted from the combined effects of the axial and the tangential boundary layer flows coupled with an additional “vortex mixing” effect near the wall through the solution of the corresponding momentun and energy transfer equations. The “wall roughness” has an effect simultaneously on the axial velocity, secondary fluid motion and the resulting swirl mixing. The model reflects the influence of the “wall roughness” and the twisted tape on the thermal resistances of the helicoidal core flow, twisting boundary layer flow and the viscous sublayer near the wall. The calculated heat transfer coefficients have been compared to 544 experimental points obtained from 57 tubes tested. Four hundred thirty-eight points (80.5%) have a relative difference of less than ±15% and 106 points (19.5%) have a relative difference between ±(15-20)%.     

Investigation of turbulent convective heat transfer and pressure drop of TiO2/water nanofluid in circular tube

Turbulent heat transfer behavior of titanium dioxide/water nanofluid in a circular pipe was investigated experimentally where the volume fraction of nanoparticles in the base fluid was less than 0.25%. The experimental measurements have been carried out in the fully-developed turbulent regime for various volumetric concentrations. The results indicated that addition of small amounts of nanoparticles to the base fluid augmented heat transfer remarkably. There was no much effect on heat transfer enhancement with increasing the volume fraction of nanoparticles. The measurements also showed that the pressure drop of nanofluid was slightly higher than that of the base fluid and increased with increasing the volume concentration. In this paper, experimental results have been compared with the existing correlations for nanofluid convective heat transfer coefficient in turbulent regime. Finally, a new correlation of the Nusselt number will be presented using the results of the experiments with titanium dioxide nanoparticles dispersed in water.     

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.     

Numerical investigation for improved heat transfer characteristics in micro‐fin tubes

Generally, internal micro‐fin tubes are used for increasing the life and performance of electronic devices. The micro‐fins enhance the heat transfer rate by increasing the surface area with an increase of the pressure drop. In this study, heat transfer and pressure drop are analyzed by varying Reynolds number with the increase in the number of fins in tubes. Heat transfer and pressure drop, together with turbulence kinetic energy of micro‐fin tubes (helical and straight) and a smooth tube, have been evaluated for different Reynolds numbers (60 000, 40 000, 20 000, and 2000) at a constant temperature of 350 K, which clearly establishes laminar to turbulent flow. It is observed that the helical micro‐fin tube has a better result compared with the straight micro‐fin tube and smooth tube at Reynolds numbers 60 000, 40 000, and 20 000 at velocity 2, 1, and 0.5 m/s, respectively. This study is an attempt to establish a comparison of different micro‐fin geometries with varying Reynolds numbers, concluding that a high Reynolds number is suitable for the same.     

Localized flow and heat transfer interactions in louvered-fin arrays

A detailed study of flow, heat transfer, and pressure drop for louvered fins is presented. Louver-by-louver mass transfer data are acquired for Reynolds numbers from 130 to 1400. Pressure-drop data are obtained using a low-speed wind tunnel and local flow structures are visualized using dye injection in a water tunnel. Particular attention is placed on the role of vortex shedding in heat transfer enhancement. In contrast to recent studies for similar offset-strip arrays, vortex shedding is found to have less impact in louvered-fin arrays. Several practical implications for heat exchanger design and analysis are discussed.     

Experimental and numerical study on heat transfer enhancement in a channel with Z-shaped baffles

The influence of baffle turbulators on heat transfer augmentation in a rectangular channel has been investigated experimentally and numerically. In the experiment, the baffles are placed in a zigzag shape (Z-shaped baffle) aligned in series on the isothermal-fluxed top wall, similar to the absorber plate of a solar air heater channel. The aim at using the Z-baffles is to create co-rotating vortex flows having a significant influence on the flow turbulence intensity leading to higher heat transfer enhancement in the tested channel. Effects of the Z-baffle height and pitch spacing length are examined to find the optimum thermal performance for the Reynolds number from 4400 to 20,400. The Z-baffles inclined to 45° relative to the main flow direction are characterized at three baffle- to channel-height ratios (e/H = 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3) and baffle pitch ratios (P/H = 1.5, 2 and 3). The experimental results show a significant effect of the presence of the Z-baffle on the heat transfer rate and friction loss over the smooth channel with no baffle. The Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal performance enhancement factor for the in-phase 45° Z-baffles are found to be considerably higher than those for the out-phase 45° Z-baffle at a similar operating condition. The in-phase 45° Z-baffle with larger e/H provides higher heat transfer and friction loss than the one with smaller e/H while the shorter pitch length yields the higher Nu, f and TEF than the larger one. The numerical work is also conducted to investigate the flow friction and heat transfer behaviors in the channel mounted with the 45° Z-baffles, and the numerical results are found in good agreement with experimental data.     

Experimental study on heat transfer augmentation in a double pipe heat exchanger utilizing jet vortex flow

This paper examines experimentally the effect of jet vortex technology on enhancing the heat transfer rate within a double pipe heat exchanger by supplying the heat exchanger with water at different vortex strengths. A vortex generator with special inclined holes with different inlet angles was designed, manufactured, and integrated within the heat exchanger. In this study, four levels of Reynolds number for hot water in the annulus (Re_h) were used, namely, 10,000; 14,500; 18,030; and 19,600. Similarly, four levels of Reynolds number for cold water in the inner tube (Re_c) were used, namely, 12,000; 17,500; 22,500; and 29,000. As for the inlet flow angle (θ), four different levels were selected, namely, 0°, 30°, 45°, and 60°. The temperature along the heat exchanger was measured utilizing 34 thermocouples installed along the heat exchanger. It was found that increasing the inlet flow angle (θ) and/or the Reynolds number results in an increase in the local Nusselt number, the overall heat transfer coefficient, and the ratio of friction factor. It is revealed that the percentage increase in the average Nusselt number due to swirl flow compared to axial flow was 10%, 40%, and 82% for an inlet flow angle of 30°, 45°, and 60°, respectively.     

流动参数对双级螺旋套管换热器传热性能的数值分析

高效热泵系统性能研究一直是热泵空调领域普遍关注的热点问题,针对设计开发的双级套管串联式热泵系统。采用3D有限容积法和可实现的k-ε模型,数值分析入口流体温度、流动速度对换热系数以及内外管努塞尔数的影响规律。结果表明,降低入口水温或者增加入口制冷剂温度能够提高整体传热性能,Nui随着水和制冷剂流率的增加有所增加,而Nuo随着水流率的增加而增加,但随着制冷剂流率则增加而减小,Nui 和Nuo都随着水温的减小或制冷剂温度的增大而增大。     

Numerical heat transfer study of turbulent square-duct flow through inline V-shaped discrete ribs

A numerical work has been conducted to examine turbulent periodic flow and heat transfer characteristics in a three dimensional square-duct with inline 60° V-shaped discrete thin ribs placed on two opposite heated walls. The isothermal-flux condition is applied only to the upper and lower duct walls while the two sidewalls are insulated, similar to internal passage cooling of gas turbine blades. The computations are based on the finite volume method with the SIMPLE algorithm for handling the pressure–velocity coupling. Air is the working fluid with the flow rate in terms of Reynolds numbers ranging from 10,000 to 25,000. The numerical result is validated with available square-rib measured data and found to agree well with measurement. The computation reveals that the ribbed duct flow is fully developed periodic flow and heat transfer profiles at about x/D = 7–11 downstream of the inlet. Effects of different rib height to duct diameter ratios, BR, on thermal characteristics for a periodic ribbed duct flow are investigated. It is found that a pair of counter-rotating vortices (P-vortex) caused by the rib can induce impingement/attachment flows on the walls leading to greater increase in heat transfer over the test duct. In addition, the rise of BR values leads to the increase in heat transfer and friction loss. The maximum thermal performance is around 1.8 for the rib with BR = 0.0725 where the heat transfer rate is about 4.0 times above the smooth duct at lower Reynolds number.     

Scaling heat transfer in fully developed turbulent channel flow

An analysis is given for fully developed thermal transport through a wall-bounded turbulent fluid flow with constant heat flux supplied at the boundary. The analysis proceeds from the averaged heat equation and utilizes, as principal tools, various scaling considerations. The paper first provides an accounting of the relative dominance of the three terms in that averaged equation, based on existing DNS data. The results show a clear decomposition of the turbulent layer into zones, each with its characteristic transport mechanisms. There follows a theoretical treatment based on the concept of a scaling patch that justifies and greatly extends these empirical results. The primary hypothesis in this development is the monotone and limiting Peclet number dependence (at fixed Reynolds number) of the difference between the specially scaled centerline and wall temperatures. This fact is well corroborated by DNS data. A fairly complete qualitative and order-of-magnitude quantitative picture emerges for a complete range in Peclet numbers. It agrees with known empirical information. In a manner similar to previous analyses of turbulent fluid flow in a channel, conditions for the existence or nonexistence of logarithmic-like mean temperature profiles are established. Throughout the paper, the classical arguments based on an assumed overlapping of regions where the inner and outer scalings are valid are avoided.     

Numerical study on heat transfer of turbulent channel flow over periodic grooves

A numerical investigation of turbulent forced convection in a two-dimensional channel with periodic transverse grooves on the lower channel wall is conducted. The lower wall is subjected to a uniform heat flux condition while the upper wall is insulated. To investigate turbulence model effects, computations based on a finite volume method, are carried out by utilizing four turbulence models: the standard k − ε, the Renormalized Group (RNG) k − ε, the standard k − ω, and the shear stress transport (SST) k − ω turbulence models. Parametric runs are made for Reynolds numbers ranging from 6000 to 18,000 with the groove-width to channel-height ratio (B/H) of 0.5 to 1.75 while the groove pitch ratio of 2 and the depth ratio of 0.5 are fixed throughout. The predicted results from using several turbulence models reveal that the RNG and the k − ε turbulence models generally provide better agreement with available measurements than others. Therefore, the k − ε model is selected to use in prediction of this complex flow. In addition, the results of the heat transfer coefficient, friction factor, skin friction coefficient and thermal enhancement factor are also examined. It is found that the grooved channel provides a considerable increase in heat transfer at about 158% over the smooth channel and a maximum gain of 1.33 on thermal performance factor is obtained for the case of B/H = 0.75. This indicates that the reverse/re-circulation flow in a channel with transverse grooves can improve the heat transfer rate.     

Influence of transverse vibrations on convective heat transfer in parallel flow tube-in-tube heat exchanger

Tube-in-tube heat exchangers are widely used in food processing industries and wastewater treatment for both heating and cooling. Enhancement techniques namely active, passive, and compound are developed to reduce the thermal resistance in heat exchangers by improving convective heat transfer with or without increase in surface area. The present experimental study is aimed at analyzing the influence of vibrations on the convective heat transfer of a parallel flow tube-in-tube heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is placed in horizontal position and is subjected to transverse vibrations under turbulent fluid flow conditions. Experiments were performed at four frequencies (20, 40, 60, and 100 Hz), three amplitudes (1, 2, and 3 m/s²), and three vibration generator positions along its length, in the Reynolds number range of 10 710 to 21 420. An enhancement in Nusselt number is found with vibration than without vibration throughout the entire range of Reynolds numbers. A maximum enhancement of 33% at 40 Hz frequency, 3 m/s² amplitude, and vibration generator position at three-fourth of the tube length was observed. Empirical correlations are developed for Nusselt number to determine the heat transfer coefficient with vibration with an error of $\pm$10%.     

A generalized correlation for evaporation heat transfer of refrigerants in micro-fin tubes

A generalized correlation for flow boiling heat transfer in horizontal micro-fin tubes was developed by implementing non-dimensional parameters accounting for heat transfer enhancement over smooth tubes and physical phenomena into the basic form of a smooth tube correlation. The enhancement factor in nucleate boiling consists of surface tension and turbulence effects generated by the liquid flow. A modified Reynolds number having some similarities with the roughness Reynolds number is introduced into the model to estimate heat transfer enhancement in convective boiling. The ratio of the liquid film thickness to the fin height is also employed in the correlation. The database of the present correlation includes 749 data points for five different refrigerants. The present correlation has a relatively simpler form to employ and yields closer fit to the experimental data with a mean deviation of 20.5% as compared to the existing correlations in the literature.     

Analysis of turbulent heat transfer and fluid flow in channels with various ribbed internal surfaces

This paper presents results of a numerical investigation of heat transfer and flow pattern characteristics of a channel with repeated ribs on one broad wall. Numerical computations are performed for seven ribs placed on the bottom wall of a channel for Reynolds numbers ranging from 10,000 to 30,000. The newly modified ribs (the ones with convex pointing upstream/downstream rib, wedge pointing upstream/downstream rib, concave pointing upstream/downstream rib and also concave-concave rib as well as convex-concave rib), are proposed for simulation with prospect to reduce flow separation and extend reattachment area compared to the unmodified square rib. The numerical results are reported in forms of flow structure, temperature field, turbulent kinetic energy, Nusselt number, friction factor and thermal enhancement factor. The results indicate the rib with concave-concave surfaces efficiently suppresses flow separation bubble in the corner of the rib and induces large recirculation zone over those of the others, hence giving the highest Nusselt number and friction factor. On the other hand, the one with convex-concave surface provides the lowest friction factor with moderate Nusselt number. Due to the prominent effect of its low friction factor, the rib with convex-concave surface offers the highest thermal enhancement factor of 1.19.     

CFD based evaluation of heat transfer coefficient from cylindrical particles

Two- and three-dimensional CFD modeling of heat transfer from discrete circular cylindrical particles in four different situations including A) infinite cylinder in cross-flow, B) cross-flow on finite cylinder with different aspect ratio in a rectangular duct, C) axial-flow on finite cylinder and D) axial-flow on finite cylinder with upstream turbulence have been investigated with the commercial CFD software, FEMLAB. The results were validated using experimental data from different research papers and also experimental correlations and show good quantitative and qualitative agreement with each other. In case B, a correction term has been proposed from CFD work which is applied to an experimental correlation to consider the aspect ratio influence on predicting the Nusselt number with an average error of 3.7%.     

Boiling heat transfer correlations for refrigerant mixtures flowing inside micro-fin tubes

Based on experimental results of ternary non-azeotropic refrigerant mixture R417A flowing and boiling in one smooth and two internally grooved horizontal tubes with different geometrical parameters, a boiling heat transfer correlations was developed for refrigerant mixtures flowing inside micro-fin tubes by applying the enhancement factor in the present modified-Kattan model which was modified by the experimental data of R417A in a smooth tube. The comparison between the calculation and the experimental results indicates that the prediction by the present correlations is in good agreement with the experiment of refrigerant mixtures inside different microfin tubes with a standard deviation of ±30% for vapor qualities below 80%. __________ Translated from Journal of Xi’an Jiaotong University, 2007, 41(11): 1279–1283 [译自: 西安交通大学学报]     

Effect of Prandtl number on the turbulent thermal field in annular pipe flow

The effect of Prandtl number on the turbulent thermal statistics in fully developed annular pipe flow, with isoflux boundary conditions, is investigated by use of direct numerical simulation, for two values of Reynolds number. The Prandtl number has marked influence on the thermal field. With decreasing Pr, the conductive sublayer at both walls spreads from the walls to the core region, while the root mean square of temperature fluctuations and the turbulent heat fluxes are reduced near both walls. Asymptotic behaviours of these quantities are analyzed.     

平行流热管管内流动与传热的数值模拟研究

为研究平行流热管的工作机理,本文基于Fluent软件中的VOF模型编写了蒸发冷凝相变的UDF程序,对不同功率下平行流热管管内两相流动和传热过程进行了数值模拟研究。模拟结果显示了初始阶段平行流热管管内的气液分布,启动阶段管内包括泡状流、弹状流、环状流等复杂流型的转变过程,稳定工作阶段工质在各并联管路中互激振荡流动。在高加热功率下,管内工质的互激振荡流动更为剧烈,热量输送距离更远。研究结果为平行流热管换热器的优化设计提供了参考依据。     

Experimental research on heat transfer of water in tubes with conical ring inserts in transient regime

Forced convective of water in horizontal tubes with conical tube inserts has been studied experimentally. The transient flow regime has been used for the tests. Experimental results are validated with existing well established correlation. The turbulators were placed in two different arrangements: converging conical ring, referred to as CR array and diverging conical ring, DR array. Two correlations for the Nusselt number based on the experiment are introduced for practical use. It is found that the insertion of turbulators has enhanced the Nusselt number for the DR arrangement up to 521%, and for the CR arrangement up to 355%, although using the turbulators cause a significant increase in pressure drop.