Numerical investigation on thermal-fractional characteristics inside a heated tube enhanced with a novel grooved cone turbulator

Bing Mei; Azher M. Abed; Pinank Patel; Ankit Kedia; Hamdi Ayed; Abir Mouldi; Ibrahim Mahariq

Case Studies in Thermal Engineering (Feb 2025)

Numerical investigation on thermal-fractional characteristics inside a heated tube enhanced with a novel grooved cone turbulator

Bing Mei,
Azher M. Abed,
Pinank Patel,
Ankit Kedia,
Hamdi Ayed,
Abir Mouldi,
Ibrahim Mahariq

Affiliations

Bing Mei: College of Construction Engineering, Yunnan Agricultural University, Kunming, Yunnan, 650000, China
Azher M. Abed: Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Techniques Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Technologies, Al-Mustaqbal University, Babylon, 51001, Iraq; Al - Mustaqbal Center for Energy Research, Al-Mustaqbal University, Babylon, 51001, Iraq; Corresponding author. Al - Mustaqbal Center for energy research, Al-Mustaqbal University, 51001, Babylon, Iraq.
Pinank Patel: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology Marwadi University, Rajkot, 360003, Gujarat, India; Corresponding author. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Technology Marwadi University, Rajkot, Gujarat, India.
Ankit Kedia: NIMS School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, NIMS University Rajasthan, Jaipur, India
Hamdi Ayed: Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia; Higher Institute of Transport and Logistics of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse, 4023, Tunisia
Abir Mouldi: Department of Industrial Engineering, College of Engineering, King Khalid University, Abha, 61421, Saudi Arabia
Ibrahim Mahariq: GUST Engineering and Applied Innovation Research Center (GEAR), Gulf University for Science and Technology, Mishref, Kuwait; Department of Mathematics, Saveetha School of Engineering, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 602105, Tamil Nadu, India; Applied Science Research Center, Applied Science Private University, Amman, Jordan; Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan; Corresponding author. Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 66
p. 105712

Abstract

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This study introduces a novel grooved cone turbulator (GCT) designed to enhance the thermal efficiency of a heated tube. The performance of the GCT-equipped tube was compared to that of a simple cone turbulator (SCT) and a plain tube. To investigate the impact of the GCT's geometric characteristics on hydrothermal parameters, tests were conducted on varying groove diameters (2.5–10 mm), twist angles (0–270°), and pitch lengths (40–70 mm). The results demonstrate that heat transfer is directly correlated with both groove diameter and twist angle, while it is inversely correlated with pitch length. Notably, the use of the GCT increased the Nusselt number and friction factor by as much as 762 % compared to the plain tube and by 221 % compared to the SCT-equipped tube. Among the three configurations tested—plain tube, SCT-equipped tube, and GCT-equipped tube—the GCT achieved the highest thermal enhancement factor (TEF) of 3.42. This optimal TEF of 3.42 was attained with a GCT featuring a twist angle of 90°, a groove diameter of 10 mm, and a pitch length of 5 cm.

Published in Case Studies in Thermal Engineering

ISSN: 2214-157X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Website: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/case-studies-in-thermal-engineering/

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