Heat Transfer in Turbulent Tube Flow of Liquid Metals

Abstract

New heat transfer correlations for forced turbulent flow of liquid metals in the tubes have been proposed. Turbulent heat transfer in the circular tube was analyzed for a constant heat flux at the inner surface. Four various turbulent number models developed by Aoki, Weigand et al., Kays, and modified Aoki's model were considered. Using the universal velocity profile determined experimentally by Reichardt and different relationships for the turbulent Prandtl number, the energy conservation equation was integrated. Subsequently, the Nusselt numbers for a broad range of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers were calculated using the Lyon integral. Based on the determined Nusselt numbers, new correlations for Nusselt number as a function of Reynolds and Prandtl numbers have been proposed for various relationships for the turbulent Prandtl number. Nusselt numbers calculated using the proposed correlations were compared with the experimental data. Constants in different models for the turbulent Prandtl number were adjusted so as to obtain good agreement between calculated and experimentally obtained Nusselt numbers.