Enhancement of Thermohydraulic Performance of Turbulent Flow in Rectangular and Square Ribbed Ducts With Twisted-Tape Inserts

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashis K. Mazumder ◽  
Sujoy K. Saha

The thermohydraulic performance of turbulent flow of air through rectangular and square ribbed ducts with twisted-tape inserts has been experimentally studied. The performance is influenced by the twisted-tape-generated swirl flow and the boundary layer separation, reattachment, and flow recirculation due to the ribs. Correlations developed for friction factor and Nusselt number satisfactorily predict the experimental data. The performance of the ribbed ducts with full-length twisted-tape inserts is found to be better than only ribbed ducts and ducts with only twisted-tape inserts. The regularly spaced twisted-tape elements in specific cases significantly perform better than their full-length counterparts. However, the short-length twisted-tape performance is worse than the full-length twisted tapes.

2006 ◽  
Vol 128 (10) ◽  
pp. 1070-1080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Debashis Pramanik ◽  
Sujoy K. Saha

The heat transfer and the pressure drop characteristics of laminar flow of viscous oil through rectangular and square ducts with internal transverse rib turbulators on two opposite surfaces of the ducts and fitted with twisted tapes have been studied experimentally. The tapes have been full length, short length, and regularly spaced types. The transverse ribs in combination with full-length twisted tapes have been found to perform better than either ribs or twisted tapes acting alone. The heat transfer and the pressure drop measurements have been taken in separate test sections. Heat transfer tests were carried out in electrically heated stainless steel ducts incorporating uniform wall heat flux boundary conditions. Pressure drop tests were carried out in acrylic ducts. The flow was periodically fully developed in the regularly spaced twisted-tape elements case and decaying swirl flow in the short-length twisted tapes case. The flow characteristics are governed by twist ratio, space ratio, and length of twisted tape, Reynolds number, Prandtl number, rod-to-tube diameter ratio, duct aspect ratio, rib height, and rib spacing. Correlations developed for friction factor and Nusselt number have predicted the experimental data satisfactorily. The performance of the geometry under investigation has been evaluated. It has been found that on the basis of both constant pumping power and constant heat duty, the regularly spaced twisted-tape elements in specific cases perform marginally better than their full-length counterparts. However, the short-length twisted-tape performance is worse than the full-length twisted tapes. Therefore, full-length twisted tapes and regularly spaced twisted-tape elements in combination with transverse ribs are recommended for laminar flows. However, the short-length twisted tapes are not recommended.


2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Saha ◽  
A. Dutta

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in a circular tube fitted with twisted tapes have been investigated experimentally. Laminar swirl flow of a large Prandtl number 205<Pr<518 viscous fluid was considered. The swirl was generated by short-length twisted-tape inserts; regularly spaced twisted-tape elements with multiple twists in the tape module and connected by thin circular rods; and smoothly varying (gradually decreasing) pitch twisted-tapes. The heat transfer test section was heated electrically imposing axially and circumferentially constant wall heat flux (UHF) boundary condition. Reynolds number, Prandtl number, twist ratio, space ratio, number of tuns in the tape module, length of the twisted-tape and smoothness of the swirling pitch govern the characteristics. Friction factor and Nusselt number are lower for short-length twisted-tape than those for full-length twisted-tape. On the basis of constant pumping power and constant heat duty, however, short-length twisted-tapes are found to perform better than full-length twisted-tapes for tighter twists. Thermohydraulic performance shows that twisted-tapes with multiple twists in the tape module is not much different from that with single twist in the tape module. Friction factor and Nusselt number are approximately 15 percent lower for twisted-tapes with smooth swirl having the average pitch same as that of the uniform pitch (throughout) twisted-tape and the twisted-tapes with gradually decreasing pitch perform worse than their uniform-pitch counterparts.


2004 ◽  
Vol 127 (9) ◽  
pp. 966-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. K. Saha ◽  
D. N. Mallick

Abstract The present paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of laminar flow of viscous oil through horizontal rectangular and square plain ducts and ducts inserted with full-length twisted tapes, short-length twisted tapes, and regularly spaced twisted-tape elements. Isothermal pressure drop measurements were taken in acrylic ducts. Heat transfer measurements were taken in electrically heated stainless-steel ducts imposing uniform wall heat flux boundary conditions. The duct aspect ratios AR were 1, 0.5, and 0.333. The twist ratios of the twisted tapes were y=2.692, 5.385, 2.597, 5.193, 2.308, and 4.615. Short-length tapes were 0.9, 0.7, and 0.5 times the duct length. The space ratios were s=2.692, 5.385, 2.597, 5.193, 2.308, and 4.615. Both friction factor and Nusselt number increase with decreasing y and AR for AR⩽1 and increasing Re, Sw, and Pr. As the tape-length decreases, both friction factor and Nusselt number decrease. Friction factor increases as s decreases, and Nusselt number increases as s increases. Isothermal friction factor correlation and comprehensive Nusselt number correlation have been developed to predict data reasonably well in the entire range of parameters. Performance evaluation says that short-length twisted tapes are worse and regularly spaced twisted-tape elements are better than the full-length twisted tapes.


Author(s):  
R. J. Yadav ◽  
Sandeep Kore ◽  
V. N. Riabhole

Heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics in a circular tube with twisted tapes have been investigated experimentally and numerically using different working fluids by many researchers for wide range of Reynolds number. The swirl was generated by tape inserts of various twist ratios. The various twist ratios are considered Many researchers formed generalized correlations to predict friction factors and convective heat transfer coefficients with twisted tapes in a tube for a wide range of Reynolds numbers and Prandtl numbers. Satisfactory agreement was obtained between the present correlations and the data of others validate the proposed correlations. The experimental or numerical predictions were compared with earlier correlations revealing good agreement between them. From the literature review it is observed that most studies are mainly focused on the heat transfer enhancement using twisted tape by experimental or numerical solution. An investigation with analytical approach is rarely reported. Therefore, the main aim of the present work is to form a correlation from theoretical approach for Nusselt number for circular tube with twisted tape. Application of dimensional analysis to heat transfer in tape generated swirl flow is carried out.


1993 ◽  
Vol 115 (4) ◽  
pp. 881-889 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Manglik ◽  
A. E. Bergles

Laminar flow correlations for f and Num are developed based on experimental data for water and ethylene glycol, with tape inserts of three different twist ratios. The uniform wall temperature condition is considered, which typifies practical heat exchangers in the chemical and process industry. These and other available data are analyzed to devise flow regime maps that characterize twisted-tape effects in terms of the dominant enhancement mechanisms. Depending upon flow rates and tape geometry, the enhancement in heat transfer is due to the tube partitioning and flow blockage, longer flow path, and secondary fluid circulation; fin effects are found to be negligible in snug- to loose-fitting tapes. The onset of swirl flow and its intensity is determined by a swirl parameter, Sw=Resw/y, that defines the interaction between viscous, convective inertia, and centrifugal forces. Buoyancy-driven free convection that comes into play at low flow rates with large y and ΔTw is shown to scale as Gr/Sw2≫ 1. These parameters, along with numerical baseline solutions for laminar flows with y = ∞, are incorporated into correlations for f and Num by matching the appropriate asymptotic behavior. The correlations describe the experimental data within ±10 to 15 percent, and their generalized applicability is verified by the comparison of predictions with previously published data.


Author(s):  
Salem Bouhairie

The petroleum and petrochemical industries continually seek mechanical methods to improve heat transfer in shell-and-tube heat exchangers. Tube bundle inserts are popular mechanical devices that help improve performance. The increase in the tubeside heat transfer coefficient by the insert allows for a decrease in required shellside flow length, assuming single tube pass. The flow length reduction allows for designing higher velocities and subsequent shellside shear rates, to help reduce crude oil fouling potential. This work presents some of HTRI’s ongoing experimental measurements and preliminary Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. CFD visualization of swirl flow dynamics and heat transfer inside the augmented tube provides insight on complex flow physics, which is misunderstood. Heat Transfer Research, Inc. (HTRI) collected experimental data for in-tube single-phase flow using twisted tape inserts in the Tubeside Single-Phase Unit (TSPU) situated in the Research and Technology Center (RTC). Our data will be used to calibrate ANSYS FLUENT CFD simulations of a tube with a twisted tape swirl insert. We first performed plain tube simulations and compared the heat transfer results with open literature measurements, for validation. We will modify the CFD tube model to have a swirl flow insert, and compare numerical results against open literature experimental data of diabatic single-phase swirl flow. In future, we will compute heat transfer (heating and cooling) and pressure drop for tube insert configurations at laminar and turbulent Reynolds numbers from 3000 to 500000. The range of tubeside Reynolds numbers required the use of the laminar, transition, and Realizable k-epsilon turbulence models with scalable wall functions. This study describes some of the mechanisms behind turbulent swirl flow augmentation inside a tube, as well as the limitations of conventional in-tube heat transfer correlations applied to swirl flow inserts.


Author(s):  
Sujoy Kumar Saha ◽  
Bikash Kumar Barman ◽  
Soumitra Banerjee

The experimental friction factor and Nusselt number data for laminar flow through a circular duct having wire coil inserts and fitted with center-cleared twisted tape have been presented. Predictive friction factor and Nusselt number correlations have also been presented. The thermohydraulic performance has been evaluated. The major findings of this experimental investigation are the center-cleared twisted tapes in combination with wire coil inserts perform better than the individual enhancement technique acting alone for laminar flow through a circular duct up to a certain amount of center-clearance.


1974 ◽  
Vol 96 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-370 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Cumo ◽  
G. E. Farello ◽  
G. Ferrari ◽  
G. Palazzi

The swirl flow of Freon 12 in a tubular heat exchanger, indirectly heated by forced convection of water in an annular gap, is studied. Two identical situations are compared, with and without a twisted tape, to deduce the influence of the swirl flow in the particularly interesting boundary condition of indirect heating by another fluid (and not simply of uniform Joule heating). The heat transfer is greatly increased by the swirl flow, up to a factor of two at the burnout or dryout point.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias Wessling

Static mixers are an efficient means to mitigate membrane fouling as they deflect the fluid, thus increasing the shear rate at the membrane surface and enhancing back-transport of rejected matter. However, inserting static mixers in the flow channel of a membrane imposes an additional pressure drop. To decrease this detrimental effect of static mixers, we shorten twisted tape mixers and investigate how this shortening translates into a reduction of fouling mitigation. We follow two approaches known from heat transfer enhancement: i) shorten the total length of the twisted tape and ii) use regularly spaced short twisted tape elements which are kept at their position by smooth rods placed in between the twisted elements. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is applied to analyze the flow pattern, the shear rate at the membrane and the resulting pressure drop. The results allow for the selection of modified twisted tape mixers with lower pressure loss, but sufficient flow properties for fouling mitigation. The most promising mixer designs were selected according to the CFD study, 3D-printed, and their fouling mitigation effect experimentally investigated using silica suspensions. Additionally, the effect of foulant concentration in this system is analyzed. For low silica concentrations (0.03 g/L) the short and spaced twisted tapes mitigate fouling as efficiently as the full-length twisted tape. At high silica concentrations and fluxes, the full-length mixer mitigates fouling more strongly than the short and spaced twisted tapes. However, the modified twisted tapes prove to be more energy-efficient up to a certain fouling exposure.


1965 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 342-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. R. Gambill

A series of swirl-flow tests was conducted in which all of the heat was generated in twisted-tape swirl generators. This is in contrast to past ORNL swirl-flow tests with twisted tapes, in which ∼99 percent of the heat was generated in the metallic tube wall. In the present study, water from a constant-head tank flowed by gravity at 5 to 8 fps through a vertical 0.27-in.-ID glass tube ∼13 in. long, in which was located a resistance-heated, 16-mil-thick A-nickel tape. Tape-twist ratios were varied from 2.7 to ∞ inside tube diameters/180-deg twist, inlet water temperatures from 63 to 173 F, and heat fluxes from 0.21 × 106 to 1.20 × 106 Btu/hr·ft2. The water head above the top of the tube was held at 30.7 in. In all cases, the critical wall superheat increased with decrease of tape-twist ratio, whereas the critical heat fluxes for the twisted tapes fell between 93 percent and 122 percent of those for flat tapes, maximizing in all cases at a tape-twist ratio of 7 to 10. It is postulated that the deleterious effect of centripetal acceleration with this geometry, which tends to hold the vapor on the heated surface, is compensated in the swirl-flow entrance region by inertial impingement of the liquid onto the tape surface, and along the remainder of the length by a double-vortex secondary flow pattern in the plane normal to the tube wall. The power density of a swirl-flow tube assembly may therefore be significantly increased by generating heat in the twisted tape as well as in the tube wall.


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