Studies on heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of laminar flow through a circular tube fitted with right and left helical screw-tape inserts

Experimental investigation on heat transfer and friction factor characteristics of circular tube fitted with right-left helical screw inserts of equal length, and unequal length of different twist ratio have been presented. The experimental data obtained were compared with those obtained from plain tube published data. The heat transfer coefficient enhancement for right-left helical screw inserts is higher than that for straight helical twist for a given twist ratio. The effect of right-left helical twist length on heat transfer and friction factor were presented. The empirical relation for Nusselt number, friction relating Reynolds number, twist ratio and right-left distance were formed and found to fit the experimental data within 10% and 20% for Nusselt number and friction factor, respectively. Performance evaluation analysis has been made and the maximum performance ratio of 2.85 and 2.97, respectively were obtained for 300 R and 300 L, and 400 R and 200 L type inserts. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.