A comprehensive review of pulsating flow on heat transfer enhancement

Abstract

• The performance of reciprocating flow is more stable than unidirectional flow. • Heat transfer enhancement of pulsating flow is more significant using nanofluids. • Pulsating flow and porous media have synergistic effects on heat transfer. • High frequency two-phase pulsating flow is beneficial for heat transfer. • Jet impingement may be a better approach collaborate with pulsation. This paper introduced the research status of pulsating flow, including different types of pulsating flow and their enhancement of heat transfer, as well as the enhancement effects of composite heat transfer technology which is synergized with other heat transfer technologies. Firstly, the most widely studied single-phase laminar pulsating flow was introduced, it suggested that the performance of reciprocating flow is more stable than unidirectional flow. Then the research status of two-phase pulsating flow was presented, high frequency two-phase pulsating flow is beneficial for heat transfer. Finally, the research status of intermittent jet was introduced, jet impingement may be a better approach collaborate with pulsation. Different research teams have studied the effects of different parameters on the enhancement of flow and heat transfer, including the direction, waveform, amplitude, frequency of the pulsating flow, and other parameters, such as heat transfer coefficient, porous medium type, volume fraction of nanofluid, CHF, etc. And it is pointed out that the mechanism of pulsating flow has not been fully revealed. There is also a need for further research to investigate parameters that influence pulsating flow and the effect of heat transfer.