An Experimental Study on the Convection Heat Transfer of Al-Mg/water Micro Fluid in a Circular Tube with Swirl

Abstract

In the past decades, extensive studies on convection heat transfer on internal flow have been conducted by using high specific surface area, by increasing heat transfer coefficient and swirl flow, and by improving the transport properties. In this study, we applied a tangential slot swirl generator to improve heat transfer in a horizontal circular copper tube. The Al-Mg particles (approximately 100㎛ to 130㎛) were employed for this experimental work. The copper tube was heated uniformly by winding a heating coil with a resistance of 9 ohm per meter for heat transfer. Using Al-Mg particles, experiments were performed in the Reynolds number range of 5,000 to 13,130, with and without swirl. Experimental data transfers or comparisons between Nusselt numbers with and without swirl along the test tube and Reynolds numbers are presented. The Nusselt number is improved by increasing Reynolds numbers or swirl intensities along the test tube.