Effect of Turbulator on the thermal characteristic of a straight tube; Numerical investigation

The effect of Turbulator on hydrodynamic and thermal parameters of turbulent water flow in a tube with Turbulator have been investigated. The finite volume method was used to simulate the flow with the help of Ansys-fluent software. The effect of Turbulator and increasing the number of blades in different Reynolds numbers on parameters such as pressure drop, outlet temperature, Nusselt number, and thermal efficiency were investigated. The Reynolds numbers were ۵۰۰۰, ۶۰۰۰, ۷۰۰۰, and ۸۰۰۰, and Turbulators with ۱۰, ۱۴, and ۱۸ blades were examined, and the results were compared with the state without Turbulator. The results indicated that at high Reynolds numbers and with increasing velocity in each model, the outlet temperature decreased, and with increasing the number of Turbulator blades, heat transfer improved. Also, since there is a constant flow rate on the tube, the outlet temperature rises with the increasing number of Turbulator blades. Furthermore, the increase in Nusselt number with ۱۸-blades Turbulator compared to the non-turbulent mode ۱۲.۷% was observed. In summation, the thermal performance illustrates with increasing the number of blades in the disturbing element, the rate of the thermal efficiency decreased for increasing pressure drop.

Keywords:

Turbulator , heat transfer , heat exchanger , numerical investigation.