Thermo-fluid performance and entropy generation analysis for a new eccentric helical screw tape insert in a 3D tube

Abstract

In this paper, a new application is presented for a helical screw tape insert in a 3D tube. In this application, an eccentricity is created between the centrelines of helical screw tape and tube. Accordingly, the effects of this eccentricity on thermal-hydraulic performance and entropy generation are investigated numerically. A three-dimensional SSTk−ω turbulence model is applied to simulate this problem. All simulations are made for eight values of the eccentricity in the range of 0 to 3.5 and Reynolds numbers in the range of 5000 to 12,000. The calculated results showed that incorporating the helical screw tape near the tube wall (by increasing the eccentricity value) diverts the swirling flow from the core region towards the tube surface where high velocity flow impinges over the tube wall, hence extracting higher amount of thermal energy. Moreover, 42% and 237% increments are observed in the frictional and thermal entropy generations, respectively for an eccentricity in the range of 0 to 3.5.