Characteristics of Heat Transfer and Turbulent Flow in a Baffled Pipe with Different Arrangements

Abstract

In the heat transfer, fluid flow and energy fields, baffles are an advanced enhancer to improve heat transfer and fluid mixing by working as an obstacle to the flow particles and then increasing the turbulence. The present paper numerically investigates the thermal performance of a circular pipe with a centralized baffle in two arrangements, with a Reynolds number (Re) (ranging from 10,000-50,000) under constant wall heat flux boundary conditions. Ansys Fluent software is used to solve the flow field considering six conical baffles with different Pitch ratios (PR) (from 1 to 5). Results show that baffles shape, arrangement, and PR have a significant impact on the properties of flow and heat transfer. The obtained results show an effective role for the baffles to promote thermal performance when it is used in heated pipes. Heat transfer rate is increased for the baffled pipe by 1-2 compared with the smooth pipe. Moreover, the best value of friction factor, thermal performance, and Nusselt number is recorded at PR= 5 at Re=30000 in the baffled pipe for the second arrangement.