Numerical Evaluation of Novel Curved Rib Turbulators for Thermal Performance Improvement in Circular Geometries

Abstract

Internal heating/cooling using roughness elements such as ribs are a promising passive heat-transfer enhancement technique for many thermal applications. The curved ribs are roughness elements that boost the fluid residence time and enhance the thermal-hydraulic performance of the system. In the present study, curved ribs of different cross-sections were fitted at the inner wall of the circular tube to intensify convection heat transfer to the fluid flowing through it. Novel curved ribs of inline configurations of different shapes and geometrical parameters were numerically studied for convection heat transfer using a three-dimensional computational model. The finite volume method discretizes the tube fluid flow domain’s mass, momentum, and energy equations. The local heat transfer enhancement over the tube surface is 2.75 times the smooth tube flow, with Reynolds numbers ranging from 10,000 to 50,000. The cost-effectiveness of this heat transfer enhancement method was quantified using a thermohydraulic performance evaluation factor. This factor accounts for the increased heat transfer at the same pumping power and the same available surface area for heat dissipation. The average heat transfer enhancement at the same Reynolds number and pumping power was found to be 120% to 450% and 98% to 260% of the smooth tube flow.