Investigation of Thermal-Flow Characteristics of Pipes with Helical Micro-Fins of Variable Height

The results of numerical investigations of heat transfer and pressure drops in a channel with 30° helical micro-fins are presented. The main aim of the analysis is to examine the influence of the height of the micro-fins on the heat-flow characteristics of the channel. For the tested pipe with a diameter of 12 mm, the micro-fin height varies within the range of 0.05–0.40 mm (with 0.05 mm steps), which is equal to 0.4–3.3% of its diameter. The analysis was performed for a turbulent flow, within the range of Reynolds numbers 10,000–100,000. The working fluid is water with an average temperature of 298 K. For each tested geometry, the characteristics of the friction factor f(Re) and the Nusselt number Nu(Re) are shown in the graphs. The highest values of Nusselt numbers and friction factors were obtained for pipes with the micro-fins H = 0.30 mm and H = 0.35 mm. A large discrepancy is observed in the friction factors f(Re) calculated from the theoretical relationships (for the irregular relative roughness values shown in the Moody diagram) and those obtained from the simulations (for pipes with regular roughness formed by micro-fins). The PEC (Performance Evaluation Criteria) heat transfer efficiency analysis of the geometries under study is also presented, taking into account the criterion of the same pumping power. The highest PEC values, reaching 1.25, are obtained for micro-fins with a height of 0.30 mm and 0.35 mm and with Reynolds numbers above 40,000. In general, for all tested geometries and for large Reynolds numbers (above 20,000), the PEC coefficient reaches values greater than 1, while for lower Reynolds numbers (less than 20,000), its values are less than 1.

Class Ratio Transform with an Application to Describing the Roughness Anisotropy of Natural Rock Joints

In this study, we explore the potential of class ratio transform with an application to describing the roughness anisotropy of natural rock joints. Roughness smooth coefficient, used for suitably smoothing the roughness parameter values to realize an anisotropic model, is proposed to represent the apparent anisotropy of surface roughness. The geometric irregularities of roughness parameters in polar plots allow transforming to a regular roughness asperity pattern, which can be readily approximated by the ellipse function. The joint roughness coefficients in different orientations of natural rock joints were measured and revealed to be identical after applying the smoothing process using the class ratio transform method. The results show that the roughness smooth coefficient increases with sample size but decreases as azimuthal interval narrows. This method demonstrates the ability in describing the roughness anisotropy and inferring the roughness parameters Z2, Rp, and θmax∗/C+12 D.

1-D versus 2-D Entropy Velocity Law for Water Discharge Assessment in a Rough Ditch

Water discharge assessment in open channel flow is one of the most crucial issues for hydraulic engineers in the fields of water resource management, river dynamics, ecohydraulics, irrigation, and hydraulic structure design, among others. Recent studies state that the entropy velocity law allows expeditive methodology for discharge estimation and rating curve development due to the simple mathematical formulation and implementation. Many works have been developed based on the one-dimensional (1-D) formulation of the entropy velocity profile, supporting measurements in the lab and the field for rating curve assessment, but in recent years, the two-dimensional (2-D) formulation was proposed and applied in studies of regular ditch flow, showing good performance. The present work deals with a comparison between the 1-D and 2-D approaches in order to give a general framework of threats and opportunities related to the robust operational application of such laws. The analysis was carried out on a laboratory ditch with regular roughness, under controlled boundary conditions, and in different stages, generating an exhaustive dashboard for better appraisal of the approaches.

Friction Factor for Transient Flow in Transverse Corrugated Pipes

Since the pressure losses in corrugated pipe flows are very high, their friction factor was investigated experimentally. Results of measurements of friction factor in laminar to turbulent transition zone of water flow in transverse corrugated pipes having regular roughness of approximately sinusoidal type are presented. The friction factors for four investigated commercially available pipes are increasing asymptotically to some maximum values with rising Reynolds number. Results were obtained for the corrugation depth to minimum diameter ratios, 0.103 ≤ e/d ≤ 0.148 and for the relative corrugation pitch, 0.462 ≥ P/d ≥ 0.270.

Review of Hydraulic Roughness Scales in the Fully Rough Regime

A review of predictive methods used to determine the frictional drag on a rough surface is presented. These methods utilize a wide range of roughness scales, including roughness height, pitch, density, and shape parameters. Most of these scales were developed for regular roughness, limiting their applicability to predict the drag for many engineering flows. A new correlation is proposed to estimate the frictional drag for a surface covered with three-dimensional, irregular roughness in the fully rough regime. The correlation relies solely on a measurement of the surface roughness profile and builds on previous work utilizing moments of the surface statistics. A relationship is given for the equivalent sandgrain roughness height as a function of the root-mean-square roughness height and the skewness of the roughness probability density function. Boundary layer similarity scaling then allows the overall frictional drag coefficient to be determined as a function of the ratio of the equivalent sandgrain roughness height to length of the surface.