Determination of Pressure Drop of Pure Water Flowing Upward Direction in a Double Tube Heat Exchanger Having Smooth and Microfin Tubes

Abstract

Single phase friction factor and pressure drop behavior of smooth and microfin tubes are studied experimentally. The vertical test section was working as a counter flow double tube heat exchanger with water flowing in the inner smooth and microfin tubes having varying inner diameters and cooling water flowing in the annulus. Pressure drop of water due to cooling in upward flow in inner tubes is determined by experiments. Inner tube mass flow rate was between 0.023 kg/s to 0.100 kg/s while test section inlet temperatures were 40°C and 60°C. Effect of Reynolds number on pressure drop is also investigated and Blasius type friction factor correlations are developed for both smooth and microfin tubes.