Heat transfer to pulsating turbulent flow in an abrupt pipe expansion

Abstract

A numerical investigation aimed at understanding the flow and heat transfer characteristics of pulsating turbulent flow in an abrupt pipe expansion was carried out. The flow patterns are classified by four parameters; the Reynolds number, the Prandtl number, the abrupt expansion ratio and the pulsation frequency. The influence of these parameters on the flow was studied in the range 104<Re<5×104, 0.7<Pr<7.0, 0.2<d/D<0.6 and 5<f<35. It was found that the influence of pulsation on the mean time‐averaged Nusselt number is insignificant (around 10 per cent increase) for fluids having a Prandtl number less than unity. This effect is appreciable (around 30 per cent increase) for fluids having Prandtl number greater than unity. For all pulsation frequencies, the variation in the mean time‐averaged Nusselt number, maximum Nusselt number and its location with Reynolds number and diameter ratio exhibit similar characteristics to steady flows.