Numerical and experimental investigation of laminar and turbulent convective heat transfer in a coiled flow reverser with twisted tape insert

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive investigation of heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop in a Coiled Flow Reverser (CFR) with a twisted tape insert. Both laminar (10 < Re < 2000) and turbulent (12,000 < Re < 18,000) regimes have been studied using both experimental and numerical methods. The effects of twist ratio of twisted tape, inlet Reynolds number, and perforating the twisted tapes have been investigated. The study found that the best performance in the laminar regime is achieved with a twisted tape with a twist ratio of 15.73 and no holes on it at a Reynolds number of 2000. In the turbulent regime, the same twisted tape performs the best at a Reynolds number of 17,000. The highest Thermal Performance Ratio (TPR) in laminar regime is 1.55 and in turbulent regime is 0.99. In comparison to the straight pipe, all types of CFRs show better performance in heat transfer enhancement. Also, as the Reynolds number increases, the friction coefficient decreases in all configurations. The study reveals that the twisted tape insert enhances heat transfer performance while increasing pressure drop. This study provides valuable insights into the design and optimization of heat exchangers with CFR. The findings can be used to improve the efficiency and performance of various industrial processes, such as refrigeration systems, air conditioning, and power plants.