Open Access
ARTICLE
Numerical Assessments on Flow Topology and Heat Transfer Behavior in a Round Tube Inserted with Three Sets of V-Ribs
Amnart Boonloi1, Withada Jedsadaratanachai2,*
1
Department of Mechanical Engineering Technology, College of Industrial Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology
North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand
2
Department of Mechanical Engineering, School of Engineering, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang,
Bangkok, 10520, Thailand
* Corresponding Author: Withada Jedsadaratanachai. Email:
Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer 2023, 21, 81-106. https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2023.041547
Received 26 April 2023; Accepted 30 May 2023; Issue published 30 November 2023
Abstract
Simulation of fluid-flow topology and thermal behavior in a round tube heat exchanger (RTHX) installed by three
V-rib sets is reported. The expected phenomena for the rib installation are the generated vortex flow, impinging
flow, greater fluid blending and thermal boundary layer disturbance (TBLD). These phenomena are key causes
of the augmentation of heat transfer potentiality and thermal efficiency of the RTHX. Effects of rib height (b
1
= 0.05D – 0.25D and b
2 = 0.05D – 0.25D), rib pitch or rib spacing (P = D, 1.5D and 2D) and fluid directions
(positive x (+x flow direction) and negative x (–x flow direction)) on fluid-flow behavior and thermo-hydraulic
characteristic are considered. The laminar air flow under Reynolds numbers between 100 to 2000 calculated by
the inlet condition is focused. The current numerical problem of the RTHX fitted with V-ribs can be solved by
a commercial code/program (the finite volume analysis). Firstly, the tested-tube model is carefully validated. The
preliminary results of the validation show that the numerical model has great consistency for fluid flow and thermal
structure prediction. The simulated outcomes are plotted in features of streamlines flow, local Nusselt number
contours and temperature contours which explain the mechanism within the RTHX. The thermal assessments
within the RTHX are performed with dimensionless variables, which include the Nusselt number, the friction factor
and the thermal enhancement factor. The important mechanisms: vortex flow, impinging flow, better fluid blending
and TBLD, are observed when the RTHX are installed with ribs. The maximum heat transfer potentiality is 19 times
upper than that of the RTHX without ribs and the optimum thermal enhancement factor is around 4.10.
Graphical Abstract
Keywords
Cite This Article
APA Style
Boonloi, A., Jedsadaratanachai, W. (2023). Numerical assessments on flow topology and heat transfer behavior in a round tube inserted with three sets of v-ribs. Frontiers in Heat and Mass Transfer, 21(1), 81-106. https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2023.041547
Vancouver Style
Boonloi A, Jedsadaratanachai W. Numerical assessments on flow topology and heat transfer behavior in a round tube inserted with three sets of v-ribs. Frontiers Heat Mass Transfer . 2023;21(1):81-106 https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2023.041547
IEEE Style
A. Boonloi and W. Jedsadaratanachai, "Numerical Assessments on Flow Topology and Heat Transfer Behavior in a Round Tube Inserted with Three Sets of V-Ribs," Frontiers Heat Mass Transfer , vol. 21, no. 1, pp. 81-106. 2023. https://doi.org/10.32604/fhmt.2023.041547