Experimental investigation on straight and u-bend double tube heat exchanger with active and passive enhancement methods

Gdansk University of Technology, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Narutowicza 11/12, 80-233 Gdansk, Poland

^* Corresponding author: rafal.andrzejczyk@pg.edu.pl

Abstract

Authors in this work want to demonstrate the possibility to increase the heat transfer efficiency by using simple wire coil inserts to create turbulent flow in the boundary layer as well as air blowing into the annulus of the pipe. In the study, Wilson plot approach was applied in order to estimate heat transfer coefficients for all heat exchanger (HX) configurations. The study focuses on experimental values of heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and pressure drops. The primary objectives of the work are to: I. Provide an experimental comprehensive database for HTC and pressure drops; II. Analysis effect of different flow conditions e.g. water mass flow rate, the void fraction on heat transfer and hydraulic performance of tested elements. III. Compare influences of both passive and active methods at the efficiency of simple heat exchangers constructions; IV. Validation experimental results with selected experimental models from the open literature.