Heat transfer enhancement in a pipe using vortex generator

Abstract

This paper presents the use of a pair of vortex generators to increase the heat transfer coefficient in laminar and turbulent flow inside a circular pipe. A pair of vortex generator with a height of 6 mm and angle of attack of 25o inside a 12 mm diameter pipe. The flow pattern inside the pipe was visualized using dye injection method for the Reynolds number lower than 2100, to ensure the vortex generator produced turbulent flow. Then, the improvement on heat transfer enhancement of this vortex generator was evaluated through experiment. For the flow with Reynolds number less than 2000, the increase in heat transfer coefficient is 10 %. Tests with Reynolds number higher than 5000 did not yielded a conclusive result due to limitation on the heat transfer coefficient on the outer surface of pipe. It is expected that the vortex generator presented in this paper could be used to enhance heat transfer performance in thermoelectric heat pump system.