An Attempt to Experimentally Uncouple the Effect of Coriolis and Buoyancy Forces on Heat Transfer in Smooth Circular Tubes Which Rotate in the Orthogonal Mode

Abstract

This paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the combined effect of Coriolis and buoyancy forces on forced convection in a circular tube which rotates about an axis orthogonal to its centre line. The experiment has been deliberately designed to minimise the effect of circumferential conduction in the tube walls by using material of relatively low thermal conductivity. A new correlating parameter for uncoupling the effect of Coriolis forces from centripetal buoyancy is proposed for the trailing and leading edges of the tube. It is demonstrated that enhanced heat transfer on the trailing edge occurs as a result of rotation. On the leading edge significant reductions in heat transfer compared to the zero rotation case can occur but with possible recovery at high rotational speeds.