The need for high performance thermal systems has stimulated research interest in methods to augment heat transfer. Single-phase heat transfer coefficients can be artificially increased by modifying the surface of the tube - roughened surface, extende...
The need for high performance thermal systems has stimulated research interest in methods to augment heat transfer. Single-phase heat transfer coefficients can be artificially increased by modifying the surface of the tube - roughened surface, extended surface, inlet vortex generator, swirl flow devices. These methods enhance convective heat transfer by introducing swirl into the bulk flow or periodic disruption of the boundary layer at the tube surface due to repeated changes in the surface geometry.
However, The increase in heat transfer is accompanied by the increase in the resistance to fluid flow. Many investigators have studied this problem in an attempt to develop accurate predictions of the behavior of a given roughness geometry and to define a geometry which gives the best heat transfer performance for the given flow friction.
This work presents experimental information for single phase turbulent forced convection in coil ribbed circular tubes. Both heat transfer and pressure drop enhancements were observed for a Reynolds numbers of 10,000~40,000. The dimensionless geometric parameters are pitch to height ratio(p/e), efficiency index(η) and the flow attack angle(α). Test section was electrically uniformly heated and the pressure drop accross the test section was obtained by a differential pressure sensor. Before initiating experiments with the coil ribbed circular tubes, the friction factor and heat transfer coefficient were determined for a smooth tube and compared with previous workers results. Experiments are performed for coil ribbed tubes which have different pitch to height ratios(5, 10, and 15). Both the Stanton number and friction factor have a maximun value when the pitch to height ratio of the rib is five. As Reynolds number is increased, the 'efficiency index', η≡ (St/St_(s))/(□/□_(s)) decreases. A performance comparison show that the coil ribbed circular tube with a 15 pitch to height ratio gives higher heat transfer for the same friction power then the others.