Highest Thermal Enhancement Factor Research Articles

Numerical analysis of a solar air heater with offset transverse ribs placed near the absorber plate

Solar air heater (SAH) is used to convert readily available solar energy into useful thermal energy. Several studies have been conducted with different roughness elements on the absorber plate. However, study with ribs which are placed slightly above the heated plate, termed as offset transverse ribs, are still scant in the literature. Such study would explain the effect of flow between the ribs and the absorber plate on heat transfer augmentation in a SAH. With this objective a 2-D numerical study is performed here by solving steady RANS equations with RNG k−ɛ turbulence model. The effect of offset transverse ribs on heat transfer, pressure drop and thermal enhancement factor (TEF) is investigated. The geometrical parameters, such as, relative gap (α), relative height (β) and relative pitch (λ) are varied in the range of 0.0–0.045, 0.015 to 0.09, and 0.0333 to 0.1, respectively. The performance of SAH is evaluated on the basis of highest enhancement in relative Nusselt number (NuR/Nu) and thermal enhancement factor (TEF). A slight gap between the ribs and the absorber plate (α = 0.0075) is observed to yield better thermal performance than that for the attached ribs (α = 0). The maximum enhancement in NuR/Nu is found to be 1.52 for α = 0.0075. However, increasing the gap (i.e., α) prevents the flow reattachment with the absorber plate. Increase in rib height, on the other hand, is found to be more effective in heat transfer enhancement, but with a price of a significant enhancement in pressure drop. This leads to a reduction in the overall performance of SAH. Increment in pitch distance, however, reduces the enhancement in both Nusselt number and friction factor. By considering these three parameters, the highest TEF is found to be 1.042 for α=0.0075, β=0.030, and λ=0.0333 at Re equal to 13000. Finally, correlations for NuR and fR are derived as a function of the parameters investigated for helping the design of SAHs.

Enhancing the efficiency of a double tube heat exchanger via a novel vibrating woven wire turbulator combined with a helical coiled wire; an experimental study

Vibrating turbulators have emerged as innovative methods for enhancing heat transfer in heat exchangers over the past two years. Previous studies have mainly employed string or strip configurations for turbulator construction. In this research, a novel vibrating turbulator, known as the vibrating woven wire turbulator, is introduced to enhance the thermal efficiency of heat exchangers. This study proposes the first-ever application of a turbulator with this unique geometry. This turbulator consists of intertwined metallic wires, providing a lightweight design with a substantial contact surface area for the fluid. Experiments are conducted for Reynolds numbers ranging from 1000 to 8500, covering both laminar and turbulent flow regimes. The findings demonstrate that this turbulator significantly enhances heat transfer by up to 236 %, while only resulting in a marginal increase in pressure drop. This remarkable improvement in heat transfer, while keeping the pressure drop within acceptable limits, gives rise to an impressive thermal enhancement factor (TEF) of 2.45. To achieve an even higher TEF, this study investigates the synergistic combination of the vibrating woven wire turbulator with a helical coiled wire turbulator. Experiments are conducted on coils with diameters ranging from 0.5 to 1.5 mm. The simultaneous utilization of both turbulators leads to a significant improvement in heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop, with an increase of 545 % and 320 %, respectively, resulting in a high TEF of up to 3.13.

Flow and thermal behavior of solar air heater with grooved roughness

A simple and eco-friendly solar air heater (SAH) converts renewable solar energy into useful thermal energy. The implementation of roughness on the absorber plate of a solar air heater improves its air heating capability. The hot air thus produced is used in different applications such as agricultural, dairy, food processing, and cement industries. Towards that, a 2D numerical study is carried out with rectangular groove as a roughness with the RNG k−Ɛ turbulent model. The study has been carried out to find a SAH with higher performance. Two thermodynamic models are adopted to identify and qualify the best channel. The performance of the best SAH channel has been identified by the highest thermal enhancement factor (TEF) and to increase the exergetic ratio (Ɛth). A detailed study of introducing rectangular groove on heat transfer, pressure drop, thermal enhancement factor (TEF) and exergetic ratio (Ɛth) is conducted, by varying the geometrical parameters of rectangular grooves in the range of Re from 7000 to 17000. Geometrical parameters such as relative length (α), relative pitch (β) and relative height (λ) are varied in the range of 0.0067–0.040, 0.0333 to 0.10, and 0.1 to 0.5, respectively, to optimize the performance of the SAH. Higher exergetic ratio is found around the same parametric values where we get the highest TEF value. The maximum TEF is found around 1.455 at α = 0.020, β = 0.0667, and λ = 0.30 at Re of 17000 and the corresponding exergetic ratio is found around 0.9949. The length of the groove is found to augment both heat transfer and pressure drop of the solar air heater due to increased disruption of thermal and hydrodynamic boundary layers. Rate of augmentation of heat transfer decreases in case of α≥ 0.0333 due to formation of an additional stagnant zone inside the groove. The flow and thermal analysis shows that although local heat transfer within the rectangular groove is less, the rectangular groove improves the channel's overall heat transfer. Convective heat transfer coefficient is found relatively higher where there is a change in shear stress gradient.

Numerical investigation of microchannel heat sink with novel ogive shape ribs

In this study, 3D numerical conjugate heat transfer modeling is used to investigate the thermal and hydraulic characteristics of the microchannel heat sink (MCHS) with different configurations of novel ogive shape ribs on channel walls. It was found that new proposed MCHS configurations with ogive ribs have a high Nusselt number as compared to the smooth MCHS because ogive ribs enhance the heat dissipation between channel walls and fluid by continuously interrupting the thermal boundary layer development. MCHS configuration with ogive ribs mounted on bottom wall improves the Nusselt number of smooth MCHS by 1.13–1.87 times, while MCHS with ogive ribs mounted on both side walls and MCHS with ogive ribs mounted on bottom channel wall improve Nusselt number by 1.12–1.70 and 1.08–1.59 times, respectively, at Re 100–1000. In terms of thermal enhancement factor criterion, the MCHS with ogive ribs on side walls shows superior performance at Re 100–300 and has the highest thermal enhancement factor. While MCHS with ogive ribs on bottom wall outperformed other configurations in terms of thermal enhancement factor at Reynold number > 300. A maximum thermal enhancement factor of 1.42 is reported for MCHS with bottom wall ribs ogive at Re = 1000.

Heat transfer enhancement of a copper tube with constant wall temperature using a novel horizontal perforated teardrop-shaped turbulators (PTST)

Considering that turbulators generally have a high pressure drop level and as a result low thermal performance, in this research a numerical study conducted for a new form of aerodynamically designed turbulators that are concentrically perforated to have less pressure drop. In this study, the effects of a novel perforated teardrop-shaped turbulator (PTST) on the hydro-thermal parameters were numerically examined. Results were compared with a plain tube and a tube equipped with a simple teardrop-shaped turbulator (STST). PTST with the horizontal perforation geometry including a square, hexagon, octagon, and circle holes was installed inside a copper tube with constant wall temperature. The effect of the horizontal perforation cross-section area on the heat transfer and pressure drop was also evaluated. Tests were conducted under turbulence flow rates in the range of 0.044–0.099 kg/s. To select the optimal case, the thermal enhancement factor (TEF) was calculated. The results clarified that the hole area and hole geometry have a significant effect on TEF and hydro-thermal parameters. The highest heat transfers and pressure drop took place in the presence of the STST, while the highest TEF was equivalent to 1.39 and occurred in the presence of a PTST with a 5 mm diameter circular hole. The heat transfers in the presents of STST and PTST increased by 310.1% and 298% compared to the plain tube. Finally, a correlation expressing the relationship of TEF and perforation area was also presented based on curve fitting.

Effect of baffle angles on flow and heat transfer in a circular duct with nanofluids

This work numerically analyzes the hydraulic and thermal performance of CuO-water nanofluid in a circular duct with different baffle angles. In the numerical work, governing equations are discretized with the finite volume method, and the simulations are solved with SIMPLE algorithm. The surfaces of the duct containing baffles are kept at 340 K. In the analysis, the effects of different Reynolds numbers (200 ≤ Re ≤ 1000), nanoparticle volume fractions (1% ≤ ϕ ≤ 3%), and baffle angles (30º ≤ α ≤ 150º) on the thermal enhancement factor (η) and the friction factor are investigated. In addition, the flow and temperature contours are presented for different parameters within the duct. From those contours, it is observed that the baffles cause flow oscillation and recirculation zones are formed. The numerical results show that baffles and nanofluid flow contribute significantly to the thermal enhancement. The Nusselt number (Nu) and relative friction factor (r) increase as the Reynolds number and nanoparticle volume fraction increase. While the highest thermal enhancement factor and relative friction factor are obtained at α = 90º baffle angle, the best performance evaluation criterion (PEC) value is found at α = 150º baffle angle.

Experimental study on thermo‐hydraulic performance of metal foam twisted tape in a double pipe heat exchanger

AbstractA recent study compared experimentally the hydraulic and thermal activity of twisted tape inserts for two types, metal foam twisted tape (MFTT) and traditional twisted tape (TTT), in a double pipe heat exchanger. The investigation goal of the innovatively designed MFTT is to enhance the heat transfer process, which provides a higher thermal enhancement factor over those of TTT under the same conditions. Heat transfer activity in terms of Nusselt number (Nu) and Nusselt number ratio (Nu/Nuo) as the heat exchanger equipped with the proposed MFTT and TTT inserts with various tape‐twist ratios (y/W = 3.6, 5.2, and 6.8) are considered over various values of Reynolds numbers (16,300 < Re < 32,500). The results reveal an improvement in heat transfer rate with both MFTT and TTT and this improvement is proportional inversely to the twisted ratio, but the MFTT showed the highest value of heat transfer compared to TTT and clear tube. Also, the Nu of MFTT augments averaged about 175%–230% compared to the TTT depending on the twist ratio and about 275% and 500% over that of the clear tube. At a twist ratio of 3.6, the heat transfer coefficient is recorded at 37% and 45% for MFTT and TTT models, respectively, with an increase in Re. However, friction factor (f) increases about 35% for MFTT with decreasing in twist ratio (from 6.8 to 3.6). The effectiveness of the proposed MFTT in the range of Re used is found to be about 12%, 15%, and 18% higher than those induced by TTT at twisted tape ratio (y/w = 3.6, 5.2, and 6.8), respectively.

Computational Study of Hydrothermal Performance of Microchannel Heat Sink With Trefoil Shape Ribs

Traditional cooling technologies are now become inadequate for electronic chips cooling due to size reduction and increase in generated heat flux. Microchannel heat sink (MCHS) is promising candidate due to its superior cooling performance than its competitors. The aim of this study is to investigate the hydrothermal performance of MCHS with novel trefoil shape ribs. The three configurations of trefoil shape ribs are: MC-AWTR (all wall trefoil ribs), MC-SWTR (side wall trefoil ribs), and MC-BWTR (base wall trefoil ribs). The performance of microchannel is evaluated on the basis of thermal enhancement factor, thermal resistance, transport efficiency and entropy generation at Re=100-1000. The results predict that addition of trefoil ribs to walls of smooth microchannel significantly improve its thermal performance at cost of pressure penalty. Nusselt number and average heat transfer coefficient tends to increase with rise in Reynolds number while thermal resistance and entropy generation reduces. Highest pressure drop occurs for MC-AWTR configuration due to more obstruction of the fluid flow. MC-SWTR configuration has highest thermal enhancement factor among all configurations while MC-AWTR has lowest due to large pressure drop penalty at all Reynold number. So, overall MC-SWTR shows superior performance than any other considered trefoil rib configuration.

Evaluation of Vortex Generators in the Heat Transfer Improvement of Airflow through an In-Line Heated Tube Arrangement

Improving heat transfer from surface to airflow is a current research concern for enhancing energy efficiency. The use of vortex generators for improving heat transfer from the surface to the airflow is very effective. Therefore, this study focuses on applying flat and concave vortex generators with and without holes in order to improve heat transfer. In this study, the number of pairs of vortex generators was varied from one to three pairs at a certain angle of attack for various forms of vortex generators. The airflow velocity through the duct was varied in the range of 0.4 to 2.0 m/s at 0.2 m/s intervals. From the investigation results, we observed that the highest thermal performance was found with the use of concave delta winglets without holes for various pairs of vortex generators in terms of the overall Reynolds number. The highest thermal enhancement factor was found to be around 1.42 at a Reynolds number of approximately 9000. From this study, it was also shown that the lowest cost–benefit ratio was about 1.75 at a Reynolds number of approximately 3500 for three pairs of vortex generators.

A CFD Analysis on the Influence of Upstream Surface Geometry Modifications of Clerestory Shaped Rib on Heat Transfer Characteristics of Solar Air Heater

Two-dimensional numerical analysis is conducted to determine the influence of upstream surface modifications of a novel clerestory shaped rib turbulator on thermal performance augmentation. The upstream surface of the rib is divided into two parts where the upper rib surface is always normal to the incoming flow and the lower rib surface, which is inclined to the flow. The elevation of the vertical surface is varied using non-dimensional approach length (h/e=0, 0.25, 0.5 and 0.75), and the inclination of the lower surface is varied using the rib angle (θ=15°, 45° and 90°). The relative roughness height and pitch of rib is fixed as 0.0421 and 12.5, respectively. RNG k-ϵ turbulence model is used in the analysis, and Reynolds number is varied from 8000-20000. The results reveal that the combined effect of flow impingement and the suppression of formation of recirculation zone leads to increased heat transfer. Lower values of non-dimensional approach length and rib angle provides a higher thermal enhancement factor. The highest increase in Nusselt number is found to be about 1.82 times that of the smooth duct at Re=8000 for h/e=0.25 and rib angle of 15°. The maximum thermal enhancement factor is found to have a range of 1.6-1.45 for an approach length of 0.25 and a rib angle of 15°.

CFD analysis for thermal performance augmentation of solar air heater using deflector ribs

This paper presents the effect of deflector ribs on the thermal performance of flat plate solar air heater using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methodology. The analysis is carried out using two-dimensional computational domain for the Reynolds number range of 6000-18000. RNG k-є turbulence model is used to capture the turbulence characteristics of the flow. The deflector rib has a cross-section of isosceles triangle and is placed transversely with respect to the flow. The distance between consecutive ribs is varied as 40mm, 80mm, 160mm and 320mm while the air gap height is varied as 2mm, 3mm, 5mm and 10mm. The numerical model is validated against the well-known correlation of Dittus-Boelter for smooth duct. The simulation results reveal that the presence of deflector ribs provide augmented heat transfer through flow acceleration and enhanced turbulence levels. With reference to smooth duct, the maximum achieved heat transfer improvement is about 1.39 times for the inter-rib distance of 40mm and an air gap height of 3mm while the maximum fiction factor achieved was about 3.82 times for pitch value of 40mm and air gap height of 3mm. The highest thermal enhancement factor is achieved for the pitch value of 320mm and an air gap height of 3mm at Re=6000. The air gap height value of 10mm exhibits thermal enhancement factor values lesser than 1.0 and hence is not recommended for use as heat transfer enhancement device for the entire Reynolds number range used in the analysis. The pitch value of 320 mm exhibits thermal enhancement factor greater than 1.0 for almost all the Reynolds number range used in the analysis and varies between 0.93 and 1.07.

Thermal performance enhancement of flat plate solar air heater using transverse U-shaped turbulator - A numerical study

The aim of this study is to determine the effect of U-shaped rib turbulator on the flow and heat transfer characteristics of flat plate solar air heater using two dimensional CFD analysis. The analysis is carried out using the CFD software tool ANSYS Fluent for the flow Reynolds number ranging from 9000 to 21,000.The relative pitch(P/e) of the U-shaped rib is varied as 5, 10, 25 and 40 for a fixed relative rib height of 0.0421. It is shown that the U-shaped rib augments the Nusselt number by about 1.76 times while the friction factor increased by about 1.95 times with reference to smooth duct for a relative pitch of 10 and 5 respectively. The maximum thermal enhancement factor is obtained as 1.5 for the configuration of P/e=25. A comparative analysis of U-shaped rib with circular rib reveals that the U-shaped rib turbulator is found to be more effective in providing heat transfer enhancement and has about 15% higher thermal enhancement factor as compared to circular turbulator.

Effects of spiral start number and depth ratio of corrugated tube on flow and heat transfer characteristics in turbulent flow region

Influence of spirally-corrugated tubes on heat transfer (Nu), pressure loss (f) and thermal enhancement factor (TEF) characteristics was numerically investigated. The physical models of spirally-corrugated tubes and also a straight circular tube were built for the comparative study. The predictions were performed for the spirally-corrugated tubes with spiral start numbers (N) of 2, 3, 4 and 5 and depth ratios (DR = e/D) of 0.02, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08, 0.1, 0.12, 0.14 and 0.16 at Reynolds numbers of 5000, 8000, 14000 and 20000. The numerical results show that the spiral corrugated tubes created two types of flow structures: main swirl flows (appear around the core) and secondary swirl flows (appear near tube wall) which facilitate heat transfer between the fluid and the tube walls. The overall heat transfer depends on the competition between two effects: the positive effect of the stronger swirl intensity by increasing start number and the negative effect of the difficulty of fluid transfer into grooves by increasing depth ratio. For the investigated range, the corrugated tubes yield Nusselt numbers and thermal performance factors varying from 0.82 to 2.16 times and 0.66–1.2 times of the straight circular tube, respectively. The highest thermal enhancement factor (TEF) of 1.2 is achieved by using the tube with spiral start number of 4 having moderate depth ratio of 0.08 at Re = 5000.

Heat transfer enhancement of turbulent channel flow using dual self-oscillating inverted flags: Staggered and side-by-side configurations

This study experimentally determined the flapping dynamics of dual self-oscillating inverted flags placed inside turbulent channel flows in side-by-side and staggered configurations and their ability to enhance wall heat removal. Three clearance-distance to channel-width ratios (Gc/W = 0.19, 0.31, and 0.5) and three streamwise-distance to channel-width ratios (Gy/W = 0, 2, and 4) were used to examine distinct flag behaviors. A single flag mounted to the heated wall with various gap clearances was chosen as the benchmark. The flags’ time-varying motions were recorded by a high-speed camera system. Three dynamic regimes were identified on the basis of the flags’ dimensionless stiffness and the channel flow’s Reynolds number: the biased mode, the flapping mode, and the deflected mode. Temperature sensitive paint (TSP) measurements demonstrated that the best cooling enhancement, with a local Nusselt number ratio of over 1.6, was achieved for the single flag system at Gc/W = 0.19. Adding another inverted flag to the side-by-side configuration at Gc/W = 0.19 further enhanced the heat removal performance on both channel walls, and the flapping period increased by nearly 50%. However, placing two side-by-side flags close to each other (Gc/W = 0.31) led to chaotic flapping motions, resulting in diminutive augmentation in heat transfer and an appreciable penalty in pressure drop. In the staggered configuration at Gy/W = 2 and 4, the two inverted flags synchronously flapped with a stable phase difference, and the flapping periods were similar to those of the single flag. The peak Nusselt number ratio was 1.9 for Gy/W = 2, which was attributed to the concerted influence of the staggered inverted flags. The system with staggered flags placed close to the heated wall had a higher thermal enhancement factor than the system with flags mounted in tandem along the channel centerline.

Parametric study of major factors affecting heat transfer enhancement in a circular tube with vortex generator pairs

This paper deals with the parametric study of major factors influencing thermal and flow behaviors for delta winglet vortex generator (DWVG) pairs in a circular tube. The investigated parameters include six pitch ratios (PR = P/D = 2.4, 3.6, 4.8, 6.4, 9.6, and 19.2), two flow directions (upstream and downstream), and two winglet configurations (common-flow-down (CFD) and common-flow-up (CFU)). The air-flow and heat transfer behaviors in the tube are examined for Reynolds number Re = 5 × 103–2.5 × 104.The experimental results indicate that PR has a significant effect on the heat transfer enhancement. A smaller PR results in a higher Nusselt number and a higher friction factor. The PR = 9.6, corresponding to two winglet rings, yields the largest thermal enhancement factor (TEF) for the Re range examined. The combinations of winglet configuration, flow direction and angle of attack lead to the best TEF performance for α30°-s15-h7.5, α20°-s15-h7.5, and α30°-s20-h10 where α, s and h represent the angle of attack, spacing between VGs and height, respectively. As to winglet configuration, CFD configuration yields better thermal-hydraulic performance than CFU. Furthermore, the downstream flow renders 30–33% higher TEF than the upstream flow.

A Numerical and Experimental Investigation of Dimple Effects on Heat Transfer Enhancement with Impinging Jets

This research was aimed at studying the numerical and experimental characteristics of the air flow impinging on a dimpled surface. Heat transfer enhancement between a hot surface and the air is supposed to be obtained from a dimple effect. In the experiment, 15 types of test plate were investigated at different distances between the jet and test plate (B), dimple diameter (d) and dimple distance (Er and Eθ). The testing fluid was air presented in an impinging jet flowing at Re = 1500 to 14,600. A comparison of the heat transfer coefficient was performed between the jet impingement on the dimpled surface and the flat plate. The velocity vector and the temperature contour showed the different air flow characteristics from different test plates. The highest thermal enhancement factor (TEF) was observed under the conditions of B = 2 d, d = 1 cm, Er= 2 d, Eθ = 1.5 d and Re = 1500. This TEF was obtained from the dimpled surface and was 5.5 times higher than that observed in the flat plate.

Modeling and analysis of solar air channels with attachments of different shapes

PurposeThis paper aims to report the results of numerical analysis of turbulent fluid flow and forced-convection heat transfer in solar air channels with baffle-type attachments of various shapes. The effect of reconfiguring baffle geometry on the local and average heat transfer coefficients and pressure drop measurements in the whole domain investigated at constant surface temperature condition along the top and bottom channels’ walls is studied by comparing 15 forms of the baffle, which are simple (flat rectangular), triangular, trapezoidal, cascaded rectangular-triangular, diamond, arc, corrugated, +, S, V, double V (or W), Z, T, G and epsilon (or e)-shaped, with the Reynolds number changing from 12,000 to 32,000.Design/methodology/approachThe baffled channel flow model is controlled by the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations, besides the k-epsilon (or k-e) turbulence model and the energy equation. The finite volume method, by means of commercial computational fluid dynamics software FLUENT is used in this research work.FindingsOver the range investigated, the Z-shaped baffle gives a higher thermal enhancement factor than with simple, triangular, trapezoidal, cascaded rectangular-triangular, diamond, arc, corrugated, +, S, V, W, T, G and e-shaped baffles by about 3.569-20.809; 3.696-20.127; 3.916-20.498; 1.834-12.154; 1.758-12.107; 7.272-23.333; 6.509-22.965; 8.917-26.463; 8.257-23.759; 5.513-18.960; 8.331-27.016; 7.520-26.592; 6.452-24.324; and 0.637-17.139 per cent, respectively. Thus, the baffle of Z-geometry is considered as the best modern model of obstacles to significantly improve the dynamic and thermal performance of the turbulent airflow within the solar channel.Originality/valueThis analysis reports an interesting strategy to enhance thermal transfer in solar air channels by use of attachments with various shapes

Filmwise condensation of steam on sinusoidal pin fin arrays: Effects of fin height and fin pitch

An experimental investigation on the use of sinusoidal pin fins to enhance filmwise condensation of steam on vertical plates was carried out. Nine surfaces with pin fin arrays were fabricated by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) and tested in a condensation chamber. The pin fin arrays have the same fin base diameter (db) but are of different fin heights (l) and fin pitches (p). At the same fin pitch (p = 1.25 mm and 1.67 mm), the heat flux (q″) and condensation heat transfer coefficient (h) increase as l increases from 1.25 mm to 1.66 mm. However, with further increment in l from 1.66 mm to 2.49 mm, reductions in q″ and h were observed. At the same fin heights of l = 1.25 mm and 1.66 mm, an increase in p from 1.25 mm to 1.67 mm has negligible effects on q″ and h. However, with further increment in p from 1.67 mm to 2.50 mm, significant reductions in q″ and h were observed. Visualization studies of the static condensate retention height (Have) show that two distinct flooding regions can be identified for sinusoidal pin fin surfaces. The static condensate retention height of both regions decreases with increasing p but remains unchanged with varying l. A fin analysis was performed to determine the average heat transfer coefficients (ht) which considers the total heat transfer areas (At) of the enhanced surfaces. Our results show that the highest thermal enhancement factor (η) of 1.86 is achieved with Specimens S4 and S5 whereas Specimens S3 has the highest average heat transfer coefficient (ht). In comparison with cylindrical pin fin surfaces, the sinusoidal pin fin surfaces show better heat transfer performances at the same p/l ratio.

Convective Heat Transfer and Thermal Performance in a Circular Tube Heat Exchanger Inserted with U-Shaped Baffle

Numerical investigations on flow structure and heat transfer characteristic in a heat exchanger tube fitted with U-shaped baffle are presented. The U-shaped baffle is created from the concepts of orifice and inclined baffle. The influences of the baffle height (b/D = 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 and 0.25) and flow attack angle (α = 20°, 30° and 45°) of the U-shaped baffle on heat transfer, pressure loss and thermal performance are considered. The finite volume method with SIMPLE algorithm is selected to solve the present problem. The numerical results are reported in terms of flow visualization and heat transfer behavior. The performance analysis for the tube heat exchanger inserted with the U-shaped baffle is also reported. As the numerical result, it is found that the insertion of the U-shaped baffle help to improve the heat transfer rate and thermal performance higher than the smooth tube with no baffle. The increments of heat transfer rate and pressure loss are around 1–8.7 and 1–29 times over the smooth tube, respectively. Additionally, it is detected that the 45° U-shaped baffle with the BR = 0.2 gives the highest thermal enhancement factor around 2.9 at the highest Reynolds number, Re = 1200.

Thermal behaviors in a round tube equipped with quadruple perforated-delta-winglet pairs

The article deals with an experimental investigation of enhancing convective heat transfer in a heated circular tube with pairs of perforated-delta-winglets placed repeatedly on a perforated-cross-tape (PW-XT). The perforated-delta-winglets are placed in inline array and a triangular-hole is punched on each winglet to reduce the friction loss. The aim at using the PW-XT insert is to produce streamwise-vortex flows in the tube to reduce the thickness of thermal boundary layer and to increase fluid mixing of the flow. The involved winglet parameters are composed of relative winglet height or blockage ratio, (BR=b/D=0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.25) and relative winglet pitch or pitch ratio, (PR=P/D=0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0) and those are performed at a single delta-winglet inclination/attack angle, α=30° and a winglet porosity ratio, Ap/Aw=0.359 for Reynolds number from 4180 to 26,000. The present results of heat transfer and pressure loss displayed in terms of respective Nusselt number (Nu) and friction factor (f) show that Nu increases with increasing BR but with decreasing PR. Nu for the PW-XT insert is in a range of 1.96–5.06 times while f increases around 2.06–35.68 times above the plain tube alone. To estimate the real merits of the PW-XT, the thermal enhancement factor (TEF) is evaluated and found to be a maximum around 1.902 at BR=0.15, PR=1.0. In comparison, the PW-XT gives considerably higher TEF than the typical four delta-winglet pairs placed on the cross-tape (TW-XT) having the highest TEF around 1.72.