Experimental investigation on heat transfer rate self-adjustment capacity of a novel horizontal double-pipe cooler with eccentric axis structure

Abstract

A novel type of horizontal eccentric tube cooler was proposed that combines the advantages of self-adaptive capacity of thermosyphon technology and high heat-transfer efficiency of conventional double-pipe exchanger. Compared with the conventional heat-exchange tube evaporator, it has self-adjustment ability of heat transfer rate with rotation angle. Four different structures of horizontal tube cooler with eccentric axis structure were proposed and tested for verifying the self-adjustment capacity performance. Finally, one optimal structure was selected as the recommendation, which has distinct successive self-adjustment ability with rotation angle 0–135°, self-adjustment range of heat transfer rate 36.67%, and the lowest heat transfer rate loss 19.66% with about 48% filling rate. It will have revolutionary application significance in some fields requiring heat exchange regulation. • A novel type of eccentric horizontal tube cooler was proposed. • It has the ability that heat transfer rate can change with rotation angle. • It has evident self-adjustment ability with rotation angle 0–135°. • The self-adjustment range of heat transfer rate is 36.67%. • The lowest heat transfer rate loss is 19.66% at optimal filling rate 48%.