Heat Transfer Enhancement to the Drag-Reducing Flow of Surfactant Solution in Two-Dimensional Channel With Mesh-Screen Inserts at the Inlet

Abstract

The heat transfer enhancement of drag-reducing flow of high Reynolds number in a two-dimensional channel by utilizing the characteristic of fluid was studied. As the networks of rod-like micelles in surfactant solution are responsible for suppressing the turbulence in drag-reducing flow, destruction of the structure of networks was considered to eliminate the drag reduction and prevent heat transfer deterioration. By inserting wire mesh in the channel against the flow, the drag-reducing function of the micellar structure in surfactant aqueous solution was successfully switched off. With the Reynolds number close to the first critical Reynolds number, the heat transfer coefficient in the region downstream of the mesh can be improved significantly, reaching the same level as that of water. The region with turbulent heat transfer downstream of the mesh becomes smaller as the concentration of surfactant in the solution increases. Three types of mesh of different wire diameter and opening space were evaluated for their effect in promoting heat transfer and the corresponding pressure loss due to blockage of the mesh. The turbulent intensities were measured downstream from the mesh by using a Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) system. The results indicated that the success of heat transfer enhancement is due to the strong turbulence promoted by the mesh which destroys the network of rod-like micelles by applying high shear stress and thus relaxing the shear induced state (SIS).