Numerical investigation of heat transfer and friction characteristics for turbulent flow in various corrugated tubes

Abstract

Thermal and hydraulic characteristics of turbulent water flow in a transverse corrugated tube with various corrugation direction (inward/outward) and corrugation shape (triangle, curve, rectangle, and trapezoid) are numerically investigated. The axisymmetric model of corrugated tubes with 10 mm inner diameter was investigated by changing the geometrical parameters for Reynolds number ranging from 5000 to 61,000 and constant heat flux boundary condition. Structured, nonuniform grid system is applied. Momentum, continuity, and energy equations were treated by means of a finite volume method using the SIMPLE scheme with the k–ε turbulence model and enhanced wall treatment. The results reveal that corrugation direction and corrugation shape have perceptible effects upon the heat transfer in the form of Nusselt number ( Nu) and pressure drop in the form of friction factor (ƒ). The average Nu for (inward) trapezoidal, rectangular, curved, and triangular corrugation shapes are 52.61%, 50.12%, 47.82%, and 44.96%, respectively, higher than the smooth tube. The average Nu for (outward) trapezoidal, curved, triangular, and rectangular corrugation shapes are 48.31%, 45.72%, 41.23%, and 40.94%, respectively, which are higher than a smooth tube. The results reveal that both inward/outward curved and triangular roughness shape have the superior performance evaluation criterion than rectangular and trapezoidal. Turbulence kinetic energy contour shows the increase in heat transfer performance for all corrugated tubes compared with a smooth tube. Inward corrugated tube provides the highest turbulence kinetic energy along the tube length and, consequently, the highest heat transfer. In addition, inward corrugated tubes provide the highest values and homogeneity of the velocity distribution along the core of tubes.