Experimental Study of an Internally Channeled Tube Heat Exchanger under Turbulent Flow Conditions

Abstract

In our previous work, an innovative heat exchanger design, the so-called internally channeled tube (ICT), was proposed based on a channels-in-tube principle. The new geometry provides a significantly larger heat transfer area than similar conventional heat exchangers. Furthermore, a three-dimensional numerical model was developed to govern fluid dynamics and heat transfer in the ICT. The focus of the present paper is an experimental investigation of the ICT under turbulent flow conditions. The experimental set-up is presented in detail and the measurement procedure is highlighted. In particular, the maldistribution issue is considered. Measured pressure drop and temperature values are used to validate the numerical model. The deviation between simulated and experimental values is below 6.5% for the pressure drop and below 13% for the heat transfer coefficient.