Investigation of thermal-hydraulic performance in a serpentine channel equipped with twisted-tap insert using computational fluid dynamics

In the present study, the thermal-hydraulic performance (THP) of the straight channel, serpentine channel (SC), and serpentine channel equipped with twisted-tape insert (SCT) was investigated using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technique. The cross-section of all channels was circular, also their hydraulic diameter was ۸ mm and the length of the flow path was equal to ۱.۸۲۸ m. The flow regime was turbulent and simulations were performed at Reynolds Number (Re) = ۱۰۰۰۰ - ۵۰۰۰۰. The operating fluid was liquid water at inlet temperature of ۲۹۸ K and the channel wall temperature was assumed to be constant at ۳۵۳ K. According to the results, the best thermal performance was obtained for the SCT but the higher thermal-hydraulic performance value was obtained for the SC.

Keywords:

Heat Exchanger , Heat Transfer , Serpentine Channel , Twisted-Tape Insert , Thermal-Hydraulic Performance (THP) , Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD).