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=10 4 ÷ 1.6 × 10 6 . The analysis of the results showed high, irregular influence of the helical angle on thermal characteristics and pressure drops. Additionally, the ratios: f / f plain , Nu/Nu plain and efficiency indexes (Nu/Nu plain )/( f / f plain ) as a function of the Reynolds number for every helical angle were shown on the charts. NOMENCLATURE A -cross section area [m 2 ] D -outside diameter [m] d -root diameter [m] d t -inside diameter [m] d h -hydraulic diameter [m] e -roughness height for plain pipe
The results of numerical investigations of heat transfer and pressure drops in a channel with 30° helical micro-fins are presented. The main aim of the analysis is to examine the influence of the height of the micro-fins on the heat-flow characteristics of the channel. For the tested pipe with a diameter of 12 mm, the micro-fin height varies within the range of 0.05–0.40 mm (with 0.05 mm steps), which is equal to 0.4–3.3% of its diameter. The analysis was performed for a turbulent flow, within the range of Reynolds numbers 10,000–100,000. The working fluid is water with an average temperature of 298 K. For each tested geometry, the characteristics of the friction factor f(Re) and the Nusselt number Nu(Re) are shown in the graphs. The highest values of Nusselt numbers and friction factors were obtained for pipes with the micro-fins H = 0.30 mm and H = 0.35 mm. A large discrepancy is observed in the friction factors f(Re) calculated from the theoretical relationships (for the irregular relative roughness values shown in the Moody diagram) and those obtained from the simulations (for pipes with regular roughness formed by micro-fins). The PEC (Performance Evaluation Criteria) heat transfer efficiency analysis of the geometries under study is also presented, taking into account the criterion of the same pumping power. The highest PEC values, reaching 1.25, are obtained for micro-fins with a height of 0.30 mm and 0.35 mm and with Reynolds numbers above 40,000. In general, for all tested geometries and for large Reynolds numbers (above 20,000), the PEC coefficient reaches values greater than 1, while for lower Reynolds numbers (less than 20,000), its values are less than 1.
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