Simulation of three-dimensional incompressible turbulent flow inside tubes with helical fins

A stabilized finite-element solver is used to solve turbulent flows and heat transfer in complex, three-dimensional geometries. Selected turbulence models are implemented and evaluated for their performance. Particular attention is given to the initial conditions for k and epsilon necessary to facilitate convergence. Details of the stabilized finite-element formulations for incompressible flow are also presented, and cost-effective model simplifications are introduced. For the analysis of heat transfer, an efficient technique for solving the energy equation without introducing a nondimensional temperature equation is also presented. As a test case, tubes with helical fins are selected.