The effect of velocity distribution on forced convection laminar flow heat transfer in a pipe at constant wall temperature

Abstract

In this paper, a theoretical study of heat transfer to a fluid of vanishing viscosity in laminar flow in a pipe is made. The constant wall temperature boundary condition is considered in order to facilitate comparison with other classical solutions. Using velocity profiles of simple geometrical shape, the dependence of the heat transfer on velocity distribution is illustrated. Because of the nature of the idealised flow and heat transfer models, the theoretical results are applicable to all axisymmetric flows. Accordingly, some account of the possible effects of swirl on heat transfer in real flows is given.