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Thermal and Hydraulic Characteristics of a Novel Helical Coiled Tube Used as a Heat Exchanger

  • Research Article - Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

In the present work, the thermo-fluid characteristics of a heat exchanger formed of helical coiled tubes immersed in cold water are investigated experimentally. Two types of helical coiled tube are tested, a conventional vertical single helical coiled tube and a new triple vertical helical coiled tube in parallel connection called as meshed coils. The effect of hot water flow rates inside the tubes (ranges from 2.67 to 7.08 l/min), and its inlet temperatures (namely 50, 60, 70 and 80 °C) are investigated. The experimental results show that increasing the flow rate inside the meshed coils leads to decrease the temperature difference between inlet and outlet. An enhancement of heat transfer for meshed coils compared to single coil has been noticed. Higher effectiveness is obtained for meshed helical coils from \({\varepsilon}\)-NTU relation in comparison with the single helical coiled. The pressure drop for the new tested coils is found lower than that for single coil (reaches 86 % at Re no. equal to 12,072), which leads to a considerable saving in power required for pumping.

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Abbreviations

A :

Area for heat transfer (m2)

C p :

Specific heat of water (J/kg °C)

d i :

Tube internal diameter (m)

d t :

Tube outer diameter (m)

D c :

Coil diameter or the average coil diameter (m)

De :

Dean number

Δh :

Manometer readings (mm)

f :

Friction factor

L :

Tube length (m)

LMTD:

Log mean temperature difference

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

Mass flow rate (kg/s)

NTU:

Number of transfer units

Δp :

Pressure drop (Pa)

Q :

heat (W)

Re :

Reynolds no.

T c,in :

Water temperature at coil inlet (°C)

T c,out :

Water temperature at coil outlet (°C)

T t :

Tank water temperature (°C)

U :

Overall heat transfer coefficient (W/m2 °C)

\({\dot{V}}\) :

Volumetric flow rate (m3/s)

v :

Water velocity (m/s)

\({\varepsilon}\) :

Effectiveness of the heat exchanger

μ :

Water dynamic viscosity (kg/m2s)

ρ :

Water density kg/m3

ρ m :

Manometer fluid density kg/m3

()min :

Minimum

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  1. Engineering College of Engineering Mechanical Engineering Department, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq

    Karima E. Amori

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  1. Karima E. Amori
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Correspondence to Karima E. Amori.

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Amori, K.E. Thermal and Hydraulic Characteristics of a Novel Helical Coiled Tube Used as a Heat Exchanger. Arab J Sci Eng 39, 4179–4186 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1034-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13369-014-1034-6

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