Numerical Evaluation of Using Metal Foam Twisted Tape in Outer Side of a Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger
This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the thermal and hydraulic performance of a double-pipe heat exchanger equipped with various twisted tape configurations, including metal foam twisted tape, conventional (smooth) twisted tape, and porous media inserts. The analysis is...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Diyala
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Diyala Journal of Engineering Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://djes.info/index.php/djes/article/view/1657 |
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| Summary: | This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into the thermal and hydraulic performance of a double-pipe heat exchanger equipped with various twisted tape configurations, including metal foam twisted tape, conventional (smooth) twisted tape, and porous media inserts. The analysis is conducted using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations in ANSYS Fluent under steady-state conditions, with air and water as the working fluids. Key parameters such as outlet temperature, pressure drop, Nusselt number, thermal performance factor (TPF), and the pitch-to-height ratio (Pt/W = 3.6, 5.2, and 6.8) are evaluated over a wide range of Reynolds numbers (500 < Re < 13,000). The study explores three distinct cases with different external fin configurations to assess the impact of geometric design on heat transfer enhancement. The results indicate a significant improvement in thermal performance when using twisted tape inserts. Conventional twisted tape enhances heat transfer by up to 33% compared to a plain tube; while metal foam twisted tape achieves a 37% enhancement. Furthermore, metal foam twisted tape demonstrates an 11.2% superior thermal performance over conventional twisted tape, particularly in the laminar flow regime. However, at higher velocities (i.e., higher Reynolds numbers), the difference in performance decreases due to flow choking within the metal foam matrix. Maximum heat transfer augmentation is observed before the transition to turbulent flow, after which the performance gradually declines.
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| ISSN: | 1999-8716 2616-6909 |