Hydrodynamic and Thermal Energy Characteristics of a Gravitational Water Vortex

Abstract

In the present study, a numerical analysis has been conducted to investigate the hydrodynamic and thermal energy transfer capacity of a vortex formed under the effect of gravity. For this purpose, the study uses a gravitational water vortex heat exchanger (GWVHE), which includes baffles around a cylindrical basin in which a water vortex is formed under the effect of gravity. The results have been examined for different inlet boundary conditions based on flow and temperature to determine the strength of vortex formation and comparative energy transfer rate for both fluid domains. A strong vortex is formed in the basin at a height to diameter ratio between 0.41 and 0.54 with a minimum inlet mass flow rate of 0.005 kg/s, which effectively increases the energy exchange potential due to the centrifugal effect. The reasonable energy agreement has been obtained for the minimum flow rates of both fluid domains; however, the thermal energy losses are increased with the increase in the inlet mass rate of the hot domain, due to the reduction in the time of contact. The existence of an acceptable energy balance and strong vortex formation at a minimum flow rate sparks the need for a new configuration to enhance the thermal performance of GWVHE.