Numerical study of friction factor and heat transfer characteristics for single-phase turbulent flow in tubes with helical micro-fins

Abstract

The paper presents a numerical study on the heat transfer and pressure drop, related to flow in pipes with helical micro-fins. For all tested geometries, one applied a constant wall heat flux and fully developed 3D turbulent flow conditions. The influence of the angle of micro fins (referred to the tube axis) on thermal-flow characteristics were tested. The value of this angle was varied - with a step of 10 degrees - from 0 to 90 degrees (representing grooves parallel and perpendicular to the axis, respectively). Before numerical investigation, the pipe with helical angle of 30 degree was tested on an experimental stand. The results obtained from experiment and numerical simulations were compared and presented on the charts. As an effect of the numerical simulations, the friction factor f and Nusselt number characteristics was determined for the range of Re=104 ÷ 1.6 × 106. The analysis of the results showed high, irregular influence of the helical angle on thermal characteristics and pressure drops. Additionally, the ratios: f/fplain, Nu/Nuplain and efficiency indexes (Nu/Nuplain)/(f/fplain) as a function of the Reynolds number for every helical angle were shown on the charts.