Experimental investigation of heat transfer and turbulent flow friction in a tube fitted with perforated conical-rings

Perforated conical-ring (PCR) is one of the turbulence-promoter/turbulator devices for enhancing the heat transfer rate in a heat exchanger system. In the present paper, the influences of the PCR on the turbulent convective heat transfer (Nu), friction factor (f) and thermal performance factor (eta) characteristics have been investigated experimentally. The perforated conical-rings (PCRs) used are of three different pitch ratios (PR=p/D=4, 6 and 12) and three different numbers of perforated holes (N=4, 6 and 8 holes). The experiment conducted in the range of Reynolds number between 4000 and 20,000, under uniform wall heat flux condition and using air as the testing fluid. The experimental results obtained by using the plain tube and the tube equipped with the typical conical-ring (CR) are also reported for comparison. It is found that the PCR considerably diminishes the development of thermal boundary layer, leading to the heat transfer rate up to about 137% over that in the plain tube. Evidently, the PCRs can enhance heat transfer more efficient than the typical CR on the basis of thermal performance factor of around 0.92 at the same pumping power. Over the range investigated, the maximum thermal performance factor of around 0.92 is found at PR=4 and N = 8 holes with Reynolds number of 4000. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.