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Numerical investigation and mechanism analysis of heat transfer enhancement in a helical tube by square wave pulsating flow

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Abstract

In this paper, heat transfer enhancement of square wave pulsating flow in a helical tube is numerically investigated. The numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental results. Related parameters of square wave pulsating flow including dimensionless frequency Wo number and dimensionless amplitude \(\overline{A}\) have been researched in detailed. The heat transfer enhancement mechanism of square wave pulsating flow in helical tubes has been revealed. And the influence of fluid properties on heat transfer enhancement has also been discussed. The results show that both Nusselt number Nu and flow resistance coefficient fD increase with the enhancement of \(\overline{A}\) and Wo values. The square wave pulsating flow of Wo = 9 and \(\overline{A}\) = 0.25 performs best in comprehensive heat transfer enhancement within the studied range. Comprehensive enhancement heat transfer factor TP is between 1.03 ~ 1.12. The increases of secondary flow and turbulence intensity as well as the emergence of backflow near the inner wall due to the flow rate sudden change both contribute to heat transfer enhancement. Local Nusselt number Nulocal of the inner wall in the pulsating state is up to 7.35% higher than that in the steady state when the medium is water. In the helical tube, the square wave pulsating flow is more suitable to enhance heat transfer of fluid with small Prandtl number.

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Abbreviations

A :

Pulsating amplitude, m/s

\(\overline{A}\) :

Dimensionless amplitude

c p :

Specific heat, kJ/kg·K

d :

Tube diameter, mm

D :

Helical diameter, mm

f D :

Flow resistance coefficient

f :

Frequency,Hz

h :

Heat transfer coefficient,W/m2·K

k :

Thermal conductivity, W/m·K

L :

Length of helical tube, mm

p :

Pressure, Pa

P c :

Coil pitch, mm

q :

Heat flux, W/m2

t :

Time, s

\(\overline{t}\)  :

Dimensionless time

T :

Temperature, K

v :

Velocity, m/s

α :

Angle, radian

β :

The duty ratio of the square wave

Γ :

Period of the pulsation, s

μ :

Viscosity, Pa·s

υ :

Kinematic viscosity,m2/s

ρ :

Density, kg/m3

△p :

Pressure drop,Pa

f :

Fluid

in:

Inlet

m:

Mean

p:

Pulsating flow

s:

Steady flow

w:

Wall

De :

Dean number

Nu :

Nusselt number

Pr :

Prandtl number

Re :

Reynolds number

Wo :

Womersley number

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 51506133), Natural Science Foundation of Liaoning Province of China (2019MS259) and Foundation of Liaoning Educational Committee (Grant No. LJ2020037).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Mechanical and Power Engineering, Shenyang University of Chemical Technology, Shenyang, 110142, China

    Yaxia Li, Qingping Yu, Sanchuan Yu, Ping Zhang & Jing Zhang

  2. School of Chemical Engineering & Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China

    Jing Zhang

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  1. Yaxia Li
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  2. Qingping Yu
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  4. Ping Zhang
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Correspondence to Yaxia Li.

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Highlights

• Square wave pulsating flow can improve the heat transfer performance of the helical tube.

• TP is 1.12 at the optimum pulsation condition Wo = 9 and \(\overline{A}\) = 0.25.

• The heat transfer enhancing mechanism of square wave pulsating flow in helical tube were explored.

• Influence of Pr number on heat transfer enhancement of pulsating flow in helical tube was studied.

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Li, Y., Yu, Q., Yu, S. et al. Numerical investigation and mechanism analysis of heat transfer enhancement in a helical tube by square wave pulsating flow. Heat Mass Transfer 59, 21–37 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-022-03231-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-022-03231-0

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