Heat Transfer Enhancement In Channel Research Articles

Enhancement of the subcritical boiling heat transfer in microchannels by a flow-induced vibrating cylinder

The flow boiling heat transfer in microchannels has been extensively used in engineering due to its high heat dissipation with a small temperature difference. This study employs a hybrid method to numerically investigate the effects of a flow-induced vibrating cylinder on enhancing the subcritical boiling heat transfer in microchannels. The hybrid approach integrates the pseudopotential multiphase lattice Boltzmann method for modeling unsteady flows, the finite difference method for solving the heat transfer equation, and the immersed boundary method for handling the boundary condition at the fluid–cylinder interface. Flow boiling simulations in the microchannel are performed for three setups: a smooth vertical channel, a vertical channel with a stationary cylinder, and a vertical channel with a flexibly supported cylinder. Simulations have been conducted by varying the Reynolds number based on the diameter of the cylinder (Red) from 35 to 333.3, the dimensionless boiling number (Bo) from 0.001 84 to 0.045 97, and blockage ratio (BR) of 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0. It is found that the vortical wake of the cylinder is important in enhancing the heat transfer in microchannels, which is quantified by the (Red). Specifically, when Red<48.0, both stationary and flexibly supported cylinders have almost the same effect on heat transfer during the flow boiling process, as there is no vortex shedding from both cylinders; when 48.0≤Red<68.2, the flexibly supported cylinder achieved higher enhancement than the stationary cylinder, which is due to the vortical wake generated by the flow-induced vibration in a subcritical Reynolds number regime; when 68.2≤Red, both stationary and flexibly supported cylinders have comparable effect on the rates of heat transfer, because both cylinders generate similar vortical wakes. Flow field analysis indicates that the disturbance due to the vortex wakes on the thermal boundary and/or the vapor insulation layer is the mechanism of the heat transfer enhancement in channels.

Hydrothermal and energy-saving performances in a mini-channel heat sink under different wire coil inserts induced swirling flow

Energy conservation and emission reduction are crucial international policies. For micro/mini-channel heat exchangers, improving their thermal performances while consuming as little energy as possible is essential for implementing these policies. Swirling flow stands out as one of the most effective methods for heat transfer enhancement in channel. The wire coil insert, known as an effective swirling flow device, has been widely applied in traditional heat exchangers. However, the effects of different wire coil inserts on hydrothermal and energy-saving performances in the square micro/mini-channel remain unclear. Actually, some wonderful swirling flow generators achieve excellent thermal performance at the cost of sacrificing flow performance and energy conservation. This violates the primary intention of energy conservation and emission reduction. Therefore, this study designs several wire coil inserts with various shapes (square, circle, obverse or reverse trapezoidal, observe or reserve triangular, and hexagonal cross-section shapes) and different pitches (p=3–10.5 mm). Also, a numerical investigation on effects of these wire coil inserts on performances in mini-channels (a single mini-channel with 2×2 mm2 cross-section) at Reynolds number (Re) of 523–1120 is conducted. The results show that the square wire coil insert yields the best heat transfer and comprehensive thermal performance. This is attributed to the fact that wire coil inserts induce swirling flow, which promotes the separation and redevelopment of the flow and thermal boundary layers. Based on this, the effect of wire coil pitch is analyzed thoroughly. Increasing the pitch leads to an increasing first and then decreasing tendency in the comprehensive thermal performance. Overall, the mini-channel with a square wire coil insert at p=6 mm obtains the optimal comprehensive thermal performance factor (∼2.0) for Re = 1120. Moreover, it also presents an acceptable energy-saving performance. In addition, the comparison of this study and several other studies suggests that, square coil insert has great potential to improve comprehensive performance of mini-channel heat exchanger at higher Reynolds number.

Heat transfer enhancement in channels with roughened and elastic walls

In this research, a combination of passive and active heat transfer enhancements are used synergistically to assist in the increase of absorbed heat from a channel by roughened and fluctuating walls. To this end, the upper wall is artificially roughened and a fluctuating segment is added to the lower wall. Flow regime is considered to be laminar and Reynolds number is 1000 at the entrance of the channel. Combinations of various roughness geometries and fluctuations are studied. It was found that due the increase of the fluid kinetic energy and its interaction with roughened surface and elastic segment, heat transfer rate is amplified. To investigate the overall efficiency of the system, Nusselt number and friction factor are calculated and a maximum value of 37.5% increase in average Nusselt number of the midsection where elastic wall is placed has been reached by flexible plate displacement. A maximum Nusselt number increase of 167% has been observed when the elastic plate reaches its peak value.

Experimental comparative research of convective heat transfer enhancement in channels

This article presents the results of a comparative-experimental research of various methods to intensify heat transfer in the channel. Four different methods of heat exchange enhancement are considered: twisted tape, wire spiral, joint intensifier made of wire tape and twisted spiral, and acoustic method of intensification. The thermal and hydraulic characteristics of various methods of heat exchange intensification are experimentally investigated, and the efficiency of heat exchange intensification is determined. The thermal and hydraulic characteristics of a smooth channel without intensification obtained experimentally under the same conditions were used as a reference. In the course of the comparative analysis of the considered methods of intensification, the most effective ones are found in the range of changes in the Reynolds number from 10000 to 60000. The presented data can be used in the design of heat exchangers.

Turbulence modulation and heat transfer enhancement in channels roughened by cube-covered surface

Direct numerical simulations are carried out to study turbulence modification and heat transport augmentation in rough channels with minor cubes on one wall. To account for the effect of the cubes on momentum and heat transfer in wall-bounded turbulent flows, the lattice Boltzmann method which is based on a double-distribution-function and D3Q19 model is applied to perform the numerical computation. The present study focuses on the modulations of the temperature field and heat transfer process by rough wall with different cube heights. Some typical dynamic and thermal statistics, such as the mean velocities, mean temperature, velocity fluctuations, the Reynolds stresses, and turbulent heat flux are analyzed. The similar trend of temperature and velocity roughness functions illustrates there is strong correlation between the heat transfer augmentation and a drag increase in rough channel flows. A significant heat transfer enhancement (26%, by taking into account the drag consumption) is obtained with the medium-height cubes.

The technology of heat transfer enhancement in channels by means of flow pulsations

The rate and efficiency of curing of concrete can boost when used intense heat. The work is dedicated to the development and research of technologies of intensification of heat transfer in channels by pulsations. The study was conducted by means of numerical methods based on mass and momentum conservation equations (Navier-Stokes) with software Code Saturne. Verification of implemented methods and software was performed. The research of heat transfer enhancement for semicircle-shaped channel exposed to low-frequency pulsations was performed. The pulsation frequency of the flow during the study was in a range of 0…10 Hz. A significant (up to 4 times) increase of turbulent kinetic energy with implementing pulsations was detected. Flow pulsations with frequency of 10 Hz results in 1.21 times increase of heat transfer coefficient.

Numerical study of heat transfer enhancement of channel via vortex-induced vibration

Thermal diffusion in a developed thermal boundary layer is considered as an obstacle for improving the heat transfer rate of air-cooled heat sinks. In this work, a passive method using vortex-induced vibration (VIV) is introduced to disrupt the thermal boundary layer and thereby increase the heat transfer rate. A cylinder with a flexible plate is placed in a clean channel; the vortex shedding due to the cylinder gives rise to the oscillation of the plate downstream. The consequent flow-structure-interaction (FSI) strengthens the disruption of the thermal boundary layer by vortex interaction with the walls, and improves the mixing process. This novel concept is demonstrated by a two-dimensional modeling study at ReD = 204.8, 245.7, 286.7, 327.7, and two inlet temperature profiles. The results indicate the VIV can significantly increase the average Nusselt (Nu) number, with a maximum enhancement of 90.1% over that of a clean channel.

Numerical Simulation on Heat Transfer Enhancement in Channel by Triangular Ribs

Numerical Simulation on Heat Transfer Enhancement in Channel by Triangular Ribs

Vortex mechanism of heat transfer enhancement in a channel with spherical and oval dimples

Vortex mechanism of heat transfer enhancement in a narrow channel with dimples has been investigated numerically using LES and URANS methods. The flow separation results in a formation of vortex structures which significantly enhance heat transfer on dimpled surfaces leading to a small increase in pressure loss. The heat transfer can be significantly increased by rounding the dimple edge and use of oval dimples. To get a deep insight into flow physics LES is performed for single phase flow in a channel with a spherical dimple. The instantaneous vortex formation and separation are investigated in and around the dimple area. Considered are Reynolds numbers (based on dimple print diameter) ReD = 20,000 and ReD = 40,000 the depth to print diameter ratio of Δ = 0.26. Frequency analysis of LES data revealed the presence of dominating frequencies in unsteady flow oscillations. Direct analysis of the flow field revealed the presence of coherent vortex structure inclined to the mean flow. The structure changes its orientation in time causing the long period oscillations with opposite-of-phase motion. Three dimensional proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis is carried out on LES pressure and velocity fields to identify spatio-temporal structures hidden in the random fluctuations. Tornado-like spatial POD structures have been determined inside dimples.

Numerical study on laminar convection heat transfer in a channel with longitudinal vortex generator. Part B: Parametric study of major influence factors

This paper presents the influences of main parameters of longitudinal vortex generator (LVG) on the heat transfer enhancement and flow resistance in a rectangular channel. The parameters include the location of LVG in the channel, geometric sizes and shape of LVG. Numerical results show that the overall Nusselt number of channel will decrease with the LVGs’ location away from the inlet of the channel, and decrease too with the space between the LVG pair decreased. The location of LVG has no significant influence on the total pressure drop of channel. With the area of LVG increased, the average Nusselt number and the flow loss penalty of channel, especially when β = 45° will increase. With the area of LVG fixed, increasing the length of rectangular winglet pair vortex generator will bring about more heat transfer enhancement and less flow loss increase than that increasing the height of rectangular winglet pair vortex generator. With the same area of LVG, delta winglet pair is more effective than rectangular winglet pair on heat transfer enhancement of channel, and delta winglet pair-b is more effective than delta winglet pair-a. Delta winglet pair-a results in a higher pressure drop, the next is rectangular winglet pair and the last is delta winglet-b. The increase of heat transfer enhancement is always accompanied with the decrease of field synergy angle between the velocity and temperature gradient when the parameters of LVG are changed. This confirms again that the field synergy is the fundamental mechanism of heat transfer by longitudinal vortex. The laminar heat transfer of the channel with punched delta winglet pair is experimentally and numerically studied in the present paper. The numerical result for the average heat transfer coefficient of the channel agrees well with the experimental result, indicating the reliability of the present numerical predictions.

Numerical investigation and analysis of heat transfer enhancement in channel by longitudinal vortex based on field synergy principle

3-D numerical simulations were presented for laminar flow and heat transfer characteristics in a rectangular channel with vortex generators. The effects of Reynolds number (from 800 to 3 000), the attack angle of vortex generator (from 15° to 90°) and the shape of vortex generator were examined. The numerical results were analyzed based on the field synergy principle. It is found that the inherent mechanism of the heat transfer enhancement by longitudinal vortex can be explained by the field synergy principle, that is, the second flow generated by vortex generators results in the reduction of the intersection angle between the velocity and fluid temperature gradient. The longitudinal vortex improves the field synergy of the large downstream region of longitudinal vortex generator (LVG) and the region near (LVG); however, transverse vortex only improves the synergy of the region near vortex generator. Thus, longitudinal vortex can enhance the integral heat transfer of the flow field, while transverse vortex can only enhance the local heat transfer. The synergy angle decreases with the increase of Reynolds number for the channel with LVG to differ from the result obtained from the plain channel, and the triangle winglet performs better than the rectanglar one under the same surface area condition.

Problems in developing highly efficient tubular heat exchangers

Modern achievements are considered in the field of enhancement of heat transfer in tubular heat exchangers. The requirements are stated to be met by highly efficient tubular heat exchange surfaces. It is shown that it is quite possible to make tubular heat exchangers more compact than the plate-type ones. A critical analysis of the up-to-date methods for evaluation of the efficiency of heat transfer enhancement in channels is presented.

Heat transfer enhancement in channels for film boiling of cryogenic liquids

In this work, the results of experimental investigations of convective heat transfer enhancement for a two-phase cryogenic liquid flow in channels are presented. The problems of heat transfer enhancement in channels for film boiling are introduced. The results of an experimental study of cryogenic jet systems and coating with low thermal conductivity as methods of effective heat transfer enhancement are presented. Also some applied results are presented.

Heat Transfer Enhancement in Channels With Turbulence Promoters

Repeated rib roughness elements have been used in advanced turbine cooling designs to enhance the internal heat transfer. Often the ribs are perpendicular to the main flow direction so that they have an angle of attack of 90 deg. The objective of this investigation was to determine the effect of rib angle of attack on the pressure drop and the average heat transfer coefficients in the fully developed turbulent air flow in a square duct with two opposite rib-roughened walls for Reynolds number varied from 7000 to 90,000. The rib height-to-equivalent diameter ratio (e/D) was kept at a constant value of 0.063, the rib pitch-to-height ratio (P/e) was varied from 10 to 20, and the rib angle of attack (α) was varied from 90 to 60 to 45 to 30 deg, respectively. The thermal performance comparison indicated that the increased heat conductance for the rib with an oblique angle to the flow (α = 45–30 deg) was about 10–20 percent higher than the rib with a 90 deg angle to the flow, and the pumping power requirement for the angled rib was about 20–50 percent lower than the transverse rib. Semi-empirical correlations for friction factor and heat transfer coefficients were developed to account for rib spacing and rib angle. The correlations can be used in the design of turbine blade cooling passages.