Review on Drag Reduction and Its Heat Transfer by Additives

Abstract

Since its discovery more than 60 years ago, the drag reduction phenomenon has achieved many notable energy saving effects. These achievements have encouraged researchers to study drag reduction further and further so that it can be utilized better. But due to the complex characteristics of turbulent flow, recent theories cannot explain all the phenomena of drag reduction. To give an overview of drag reduction and corresponding heat transfer for further understanding, this paper summarizes the main advancements of drag reduction during these 60 years, including background, application, development, theory, and research methods of different drag reducers. Future directions of development are also discussed.

Intensification of drag reduction effect by simultaneous addition of surfactant and high molecular polymer into the solvent

“…Abnormal drag reduction in turbulent flow by addition of surfactants and polymers is the phenomenon intensely studied and described in the literature (Matras, 1984;Borostow, 2008;White and Mungal, 2008;Tamano et al, 2010;Hadri et al, 2011;Wang et al, 2011;Shu-Peng, 2012). The effect of abnormal drag reduction allows significantly for the increase of the flow rate without the necessity of increasing power demand, or vice versa -reducing power demand while maintaining a constant flow rate.…”

The Effect of Surfactant and High Molecular Weight Polymer Addition on Pressure Drop Reduction in Pipe Flow

“…Abnormal flow drag reduction by surfactant or polymer additives is intensively examined and described in the subject literature (Matras, 1984;Borostow, 2008;White and Mungal, 2008;Wang et al, 2011;Shu-Peng, 2012;Tamano et al, 2010;). This phenomenon allows a significant increase of flow rate without increasing power demand, or vice versa -to reduce power demand while maintaining a constant flow rate.…”

“…This phenomenon allows a significant increase of flow rate without increasing power demand, or vice versa -to reduce power demand while maintaining a constant flow rate. It provides large potential possibilities for the application of this effect in different industry branches, particularly in the oil industry or in heating, firefighting, transport of slurries, sludge and brines (Motier et al, 1996;Figueredo and Sabadini, 2003;Dujmovich and Gallegos, 2005;Wang et al, 2011). Causes of the described drag reduction have been perceived in the existence of a new internal solution structure which is formed in the moment when the special additives are introduced into the solution.…”

“…Addition of high molecular weight polymer agents into the solvent results in macromolecule solution formation, which has a crucial influence on turbulence structure in the flow (Borostow, 2008;White and Mungal, 2008;Tamano et al, 2010). Although, there is still strong debate on whether a single polymer molecule or clusters of polymer molecules are responsible for the drag reduction effect, experimental results clearly prove that even a dozen ppm of polymer concentration in the solvent induces an efficient drag reduction effect in the turbulent range of flow (White and Mungal, 2008;Wang et al, 2011;Zadrazil et al, 2012).…”

“…In case of application of surfactants as drag reducing additives, formation of micelle structures is observed (Tamano et al, 2010;Wang et al, 2011). In order to improve the micellarization process effectiveness in surfactant solutions, small amounts of electrolytes are applied (e.g.…”