Numerical Study on Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Enhanced Tube With Crossed Helical Dimples

Abstract

A numerical investigation was performed to study the thermo-hydraulic performance in an enhanced tube with crossed helical dimples. The simulations were carried out in the Reynolds number range of 5000–30,000 in crossed helical dimple tube of a period length with a constant wall temperature of 350 K. The thermal enhancement, friction factor, and performance evaluation criteria (PEC) were the primary focus of the present work. Moreover, geometric parameters such as spiral pitch, transverse length, and dimple depth were investigated for their effects on thermo-hydraulic performance. The results revealed that the shape of crossed helical dimple exerts positive effects on the heat transfer enhancement. This unique shape generated intensive transverse flow and induced a higher transverse velocity, leading to heat transfer enhancement. Therefore, the synthesized heat transfer performance was increased by 150–225% over that of the smooth tube. Furthermore, the heat transfer enhancement and friction factors increased with increasing dimple depth and declining spiral pitch and transverse length. Within the scope of this study, the maximum PEC = 2.25 was observed for Re = 30,000, P = 30 mm, L = 11.064 mm, and H = 3 mm.