This study numerically investigates flow and heat transfer in a channel with arc-vane baffles at various radius-to-channel high ratios (r/H = 0.125, 0.25, 0.375, and 0.5) for Reynolds numbers between 6000 and 24,000, focusing on solar air-heater applications. The calculations utilize the finite volume method, and the SIMPLE algorithm is executed with the QUICK scheme. For the analysis of turbulent flow, the finite volume method with the Renormalization Group (RNG) k-ε turbulence model was used. The results show that arc-vane baffles create double vortices along the axial direction, promoting flow reattachment on the heated surface and enhancing heat transfer. Baffles with smaller r/H ratios strengthen flow reattachment, reduce dead zones, and improve fluid contact with the heat transfer surface. The baffles with the smallest r/H ratio achieve a Nusselt number ratio (Nu/Nu_s) of 4.91 at Re = 6000. As r/H increases, the friction factor (f) and friction factor ratio (f/f_s) rise due to increased baffle curvature and surface area. The highest thermal performance factor (TPF) of 2.28 occurs at r/H = 0.125 and Re = 6000, reflecting an optimal balance of heat transfer and friction losses. Arc-vane baffles with a r/H ratio of 0.125 yield a TPF exceeding unity, indicating potential energy savings. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing baffle designs to enhance thermal performance in practical applications.

This article reports the effect of twisted tapes with continuous V-ribs on the thermal performance index characteristics of a heat exchanger tube. Numerical and experimental studies were conducted to investigate the influence of V-rib attack angles (β = 15°, 30°, and 45°) in forward and backward arrangements. This investigation employed 0.9 mm thick, continuous V-rib twisted tapes (CVRTs) made from aluminum sheets formed with a twist ratio of y/w = 4.0. The experimental results indicated that a continuous V-rib twisted tape (CVRT) was more effective in heat transfer improvement than a typical twisted tape (TT). This was due to swirl and longitudinal vortex flows that helped increase flow mixing and reduce boundary layer thickness. Decreased V-rib attack angles (β) led to greater heat transfer enhancement, pressure drop, and thermal performance index values due to the greater turbulent mixing of fluid. The numerical result revealed that a continuous V-rib twisted tape created strong longitudinal vortex flow, especially with higher attack angles. The Turbulent Kinetic Energy (TKE) and core fluid temperature increased with the insertion of CVRTs. Local Nusselt numbers also remained relatively high for heat exchanger tubes with CVRTs. The experimental study illustrated that a tube with a CVRT installed augmented heat transfer. In the experimentally studied cases, a backward arrangement had more heat transfer, a greater friction factor, and a better thermal performance index. Compared to a plain tube, a tube with CVRT installed, having β = 15°, 30°, and 45°, showed 76.8, 71.6, and 66.2% improved heat transfer, respectively. CVRTs with these three β-values, respectively, exhibited higher thermal performance than a TT. Among the investigated CVRTs, the backward-arranged tape with β = 15° offered the maximum thermal performance index, 1.13 at Re = 6000. The results are congruent with the simulation outcomes, hence supporting the CFD analysis.

In this paper, multi-objective optimization of geometric parameters of spirally-cross-corrugated (SCC) tubes is carried out using numerical methods, genetic algorithms (GAs), and artificial neural networks (ANNs). First, the turbulent flow is numerically characterized in various SCC tube geometries using a finite volume method with the realizable k−ε turbulence model. In this approach, the heat transfer coefficient and friction factor f in tubes are calculated. First, two parameters (corrugation pitch-to-diameter ratio (PR = p/D) and corrugation depth-to-diameter ratio (DR = e/D)) are examined in a turbulent flow regime that affects the strength of quadruple longitudinal vortex flows and thermal characteristics. At the final step, using the obtained polynomials for neural networks, multi-objective genetic algorithms (NSGA II) are employed for Pareto based multi-objective optimization of flow parameters in such tubes. This analysis considers two conflicting parameters, f Re and Nusselt number Nu with respect to three design variables, Reynolds number Re, values of PR and DR. Some interesting and important relationships between the parameters and variables mentioned above emerge as useful optimal design principles involved in the heat transfer of such tubes through Pareto based multi-objective optimization. Such important optimal principles would not have been obtained without the use of a combination of numerical techniques, ANN modeling, and the Pareto optimization.

This study aims to improve the efficiency of heat exchangers and explore the enhancement mechanism of the thermal performance characteristics of heat exchange tubes by I-rib twisted tapes and twisted winglets (I-RTTW) through experimental research and numerical simulation. The I-RTTW structure consists of a central I-type rib and an edge twisted winglet. The key geometric parameters of the edge twisted winglet include the wing depth ratio (d/W = 0.096, 0.13, 0.16), the wing width ratio (w/W = 0.096, 0.13, 0.16), and a fixed twist angle of 45°. The study uses air as the working fluid to systematically analyze the heat transfer performance of the I-RTTW over a range of Reynolds numbers (Re) of 6,000–20,000. The experimental results reveal that the I-RTTW significantly improves heat transfer through a dual mechanism. First, the edge twisted winglet effectively disrupts the fluid boundary layer by inducing secondary flows. Second, the central I-type rib can promote radial mixing of the fluid. Further in-depth analysis of the experimental data revealed that a greater winglet depth ratio (d/W) increases the longitudinal size of the cutting winglet, thereby disturbing the fluid more deeply and increasing boundary layer disruption. An increased winglet width ratio (w/W) significantly enhances the fluid mixing effect by expanding the lateral coverage, thereby reducing thermal resistance and enhancing heat transfer between the pipe wall and the fluid. In terms of flow resistance characteristics, a greater winglet depth ratio directly leads to an increased longitudinal size of the cutting winglet. This strengthens the disturbance of fluid, resulting in increased boundary layer separation and greater eddy losses. Similarly, an increased winglet width ratio leads to greater lateral flow resistance, so that the fluid needs to overcome a larger shear force and higher collision losses. This leads to an increased friction coefficient (f). In the current study, the heat transfer rate of a pipe equipped with I-RTTWs is about 7 to 26% and 68 to 99% higher than that of a pipe equipped with typical tape (TT) and the plain tube, respectively. The friction coefficient is 1.15–1.37 times and 3.46–4.12 times that of a TT and plain tube, respectively. The comprehensive thermal performance index of the pipe with an I-RTTW is as high as 1.29.

The experimental examination of local heat transfer, thermal intensification, friction factors, and thermal performance factors (TPF) in a rectangular channel with square-winged transverse baffles (SW-TB) are presented in this paper. The purpose of this study is to modify the typical transverse baffles (TB) into square-winged transverse baffles (SW-TB) in order to improve the thermal performance and heat transfer rate of the channel. The effects of SW-TBs with various wing attack angles and Reynolds numbers on the heat transfer performance characteristics were examined using a thermochromic liquid crystal sheet. In the experiments, the SW-TBs were attached to the bottom wall of the channel, which had an aspect ratio (W:H) of 3.75:1. The SW-TBs had a width (w) of 150 mm, a square perforated cross-sectional area (a × b) of 8 × 8 mm², and attack angles (θ) of 0° (solid transverse-baffle), 22.5°, 45°, 67.5°, and 90°. The bottom wall of the channel was evenly heated, while the other walls were insulated. The temperature contours on the heated surface were plotted using temperatures obtained through using the thermochromic liquid crystal (TLC) image-processing method. Experimental results revealed that the SW-TBs created multiple impinging jets, apart from the recirculation. At the proper attack angles (θ = 22.5° and 45°), the SW-TBs offered greater heat transfer rates and caused lower friction losses, resulting in higher TPFs than the solid transverse baffles. In the current work, channels where the SW-TBs display a θ = 45° presented the greatest TPF, as high as 1.26. The multiple impinging jets issuing by the SW-TBs suppressed the size of the recirculation flow and allowed better contact between the fluid flow and channel wall.