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Computational analysis of heat transfer and pressure drop performance for internally finned tubes with three different longitudinal wavy fins

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Abstract

Turbulent pressure drop and heat transfer characteristics in tubes with three different kinds of internally longitudinal fin patterns (interrupted wavy, sinusoidal wavy and plain) are numerically investigated for Re = 904–4,520. The channel velocity, temperature, and turbulence fields are obtained to discern the mechanisms of heat transfer enhancement. Numerical results indicate that the steady and spatially periodic growth and disruption of cross-sectional vortices occur near the tube/fin walls along the streamwise locations. The thermal boundary layers near the tube/fin surfaces are thereby periodically interrupted, with heat transfer near the recirculation zones being enhanced. The overall heat transfer coefficients in wavy channels are higher than those in a plain fin channel, while with larger pressure drop penalties. At the same waviness, the interrupted wavy fin tube could enhance heat transfer by 72–90%, with more than 2–4 times of pressure drop penalty. Among the fins studied, the sinusoidal wavy fin has the best comprehensive performance.

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Abbreviations

A :

amplitude of waviness (m)

A f :

heat transfer surface area (m2)

c p :

specific heat (J kg−1 K−1)

D i :

inner diameter of outer-tube (m)

D o :

outer diameter of outer-tube (m)

d e :

hydraulic diameter (m)

d i :

inner diameter of core-tube (m)

d o :

outer diameter of core-tube (m)

f :

Darcy friction factor (–)

h :

average heat transfer coefficient (Wm−2 K−1)

j :

Colburn factor (=Nu/Re Pr 1/3)

k :

turbulent kinetic energy (m2 s−2)

L :

tube length (m)

l :

wavy distance (m)

l d :

interrupted wavy distance (m)

l f :

periphery unfolded length of wavy fin (m)

N :

number of waves (–)

Nu :

average Nusselt number (=hd e/λ)

p * :

pressure gradient (Pa m−1)

Pr :

Prandtl number (=μc p/λ)

Re :

Reynolds number (–)

T in :

inlet air bulk temperature (K)

T inner :

inner wall temperature of outer-tube (K)

T out :

outlet air bulk temperature (K)

T outer :

outer wall temperature of outer-tube (K)

T w :

wall temperature (K)

u :

velocity (m s−1)

u m :

average inlet velocity (m s−1)

x, y, z :

Cartesian coordinates (–)

δ f :

fin thickness (m)

Φ:

heat transfer rate (W)

Δp :

pressure drop in one periodical wave distance (Pa)

ΔP :

pressure drop between tube inlet and outlet (Pa)

ΔT :

temperature difference (K)

ε :

dissipation rate of turbulence energy (m2 s−3)

λ :

thermal conductivity (W m−1 K−1)

μ :

dynamic viscosity (kg m−1 s−1)

ρ :

density (kg m−3)

θ :

bulk temperature ratio (–)

*:

dimensionless

′:

fluctuation

p :

plain fin tube

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by NSFC Fund for Creative Research Groups (Grant No. 50521604) and Higher Academy Young Teacher Foundation Project of Fok Ying-Tung Education Foundation (Grant No. 91056).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi’an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China

    Qiu-Wang Wang, Mei Lin, Min Zeng & Lin Tian

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  1. Qiu-Wang Wang
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  2. Mei Lin
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  3. Min Zeng
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Correspondence to Qiu-Wang Wang.

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Wang, QW., Lin, M., Zeng, M. et al. Computational analysis of heat transfer and pressure drop performance for internally finned tubes with three different longitudinal wavy fins. Heat Mass Transfer 45, 147–156 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-008-0414-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00231-008-0414-4

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