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Enhanced heat transfer and frictional losses in heat exchanger tube with modified helical coiled inserts

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Abstract

The application of compact heat exchangers in any thermal system improves overall performance with a considerable reduction in size and weight. Inserts of different geometrical features have been used as turbulence promoting devices to increase the heat transfer rates. The present study deals with the experimental investigation of heat transfer and fluid flow characteristics of a tubular heat exchanger fitted with modified helical coiled inserts. Experiments have been carried out for a smooth tube without insert, tube fitted with helical coiled inserts, and modified helical coiled inserts. The helical coiled inserts are tested by varying the pitch ratio and wire diameter ratio from 0.5–1.5, and 0.063–0.125, respectively for the Reynolds number range of 1400 to 11,000. Experimental data have also been collected for the modified helical coiled inserts with gradually increasing pitch (GIP) and gradually decreasing pitch (GDP) configurations. The Nusselt number and friction factor values for helical coiled inserts are enhanced in the range of 1.42–2.62, 3.4–27.4, relative to smooth tube, respectively. The modified helical coiled insert showed enhancements in Nusselt number and friction factor values in the range of 1.49–3.14, 11.2–19.9, relative to smooth tube, respectively. The helical coiled and modified helical coiled inserts have thermo-hydraulic performance factor in the range of 0.59–1.29, 0.6–1.39, respectively. The empirical correlations of Nusselt number and friction factor for helical coiled inserts are proposed.

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Abbreviations

Ac :

Cross sectional area m2

As :

Surface area m2

Cp :

Specific heat at constant pressure J/kg K

d:

Inner diameter of test section m

e:

Wire diameter m

e/d:

Wire diameter ratio -

f:

Friction factor -

GIP:

Gradually increasing pitch of helical coil -

GDP:

Gradually decreasing pitch of helical coil -

h:

Convective heat transfer coefficient W/m2 K

k:

Thermal conductivity of water W/m K

L:

Length of the test section m

\( \dot{\mathrm{m}} \) :

Mass flow rate kg/s

Nu:

Nusselt number -

p:

Pitch of wire m

p/d:

Pitch ratio -

∆p:

Pressure difference across test section N/m2

Q:

Rate of heat transfer W

Re:

Reynolds number of water -

Ts :

Mean surface temperature of test section K

Tb :

Bulk mean temperature of water K

Ti :

Water temperature at inlet of test section K

To :

Water temperature at outlet of test section K

U:

Mean velocity of water m/s

ν :

Kinematic viscosity of water m2/s

ρ:

Density of water kg/m3

η:

Thermo-hydraulic performance factor −

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, DIT University, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, 248009, India

    Aditya Verma, Manoj Kumar & Anil Kumar Patil

Authors
  1. Aditya Verma
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  2. Manoj Kumar
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  3. Anil Kumar Patil
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Correspondence to Anil Kumar Patil.

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Verma, A., Kumar, M. & Patil, A.K. Enhanced heat transfer and frictional losses in heat exchanger tube with modified helical coiled inserts. Heat Mass Transfer 54, 3137–3150 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-018-2347-x

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