Flow field and heat transfer investigation in tubes of heat exchangers with motionless scrapers

Flow pattern and thermal-hydraulic characteristics in an innovative tube insert have been experimentally and numerically investigated. The insert device is a concept envisioned for reciprocating scraped surface heat exchangers. It consists of a concentric rod, that mounts an array of semicircular pl...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Solano Fernández, Juan Pedro, García Pinar, Alberto, Vicente Quiles, Pedro Ginés, Viedma Robles, Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2011
País:España
Institución:Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena(UPCT)
Repositorio:Repositorio Digital UPCT
OAI Identifier:oai:repositorio.upct.es:10317/4470
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10317/4470
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Heat transfer
Heat exchanger
Scraped surface
Flow field
Mecánica de Fluidos
Descripción
Sumario:Flow pattern and thermal-hydraulic characteristics in an innovative tube insert have been experimentally and numerically investigated. The insert device is a concept envisioned for reciprocating scraped surface heat exchangers. It consists of a concentric rod, that mounts an array of semicircular plugs fitted to the inner tube wall. In motionless conditions, the insert works as a turbulence promoter, enhancing heat transfer in laminar regime. Fundamental flow features in the symmetry plane of the tube have been assessed with Particle Image Velocimetry technique. A general model of the flow mechanism has been defined, identifying three regions along a geometrical pitch: recirculation bubbles, flow acceleration and transverse vortex. Results have been complemented with experimental data on pressure drop and heat transfer. The transition onset is clearly identified, and the mechanisms that promote turbulence at low Reynolds number are investigated and discussed. CFD simulations for different Reynolds numbers provide a further insight into the relation of the flow structures with wall shear stress, and their role on the local heat transfer augmentation.