Prediction of Heat Transfer in Turbulent Decaying Swirling Flow

Abstract This paper presents an aproach for the prediction of heat transfer augmentation in decaying swirling flow in a pipe by making an analogy between the increase in friction factor due to swirl and increase in heat transfer due to swirl. The proposed method can be used to predict heat transfer for decaying swirling flow in smooth and rough pipes which can be applied to different swirl generators based on the known inlet swirl conditions. An experimental study is performed regarding the swirling flow of air in smooth and rough pipes. The experimental study covered only the fluid dynamics of swirling flow. No heat transfer experiments were done. It is determined experimentally that in swirling flows degree of swirl decays continuously along the smooth and rough pipes and the total loss factor is the sum of friction factor for non-swirling flow and the swirl loss factor. Swirl loss factor is found to be a function of the degree of swirl and pipe relative roughness. Using the relations obtained experimentally for the variation of swirl strength and loss factor along the pipe, an equation is proposed to be used for the prediction of heat transfer in turbulent decaying swirling flows.