Investigation on effects of varying geometrical configurations on thermal hydraulics flow in a 3D corrugated pipe

In this numerical investigation, the flow behavior, pressure drop, and heat transfer enhancement for the fluid in a corrugated pipe with varying geometrical configurations arrangements by supporting the computational simulation technique are analyzed. Also, correlations expressions for friction factor (f) and Nusselt number (Nu) with different corrugated geometrical parameters are developed. The numerical modeling is applied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and flow field patterns with different structural parameters are predicted. The numerical simulation results are validated with available experimental data. The numerical approach combined with the varying qualitatively and quantitatively analysis are used. The computational investigations are carried out for a different range of Reynolds numbers (Re) with varying corrugated geometrical configurations, including corrugated pipe ratio (PCR) of 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100%, a number of the corrugated ring (NCR) of 2, 3 and 4 as well as the corrugated diameter ring (CDR) of 1, 2 and 3 mm respectively. The outcomes illustrate that as in similar Re number increases, the Nu number increases. When the corrugated geometrical increases, the mixing, and recirculation flow regions start to high rise along the corrugated pipe. Then the flow becomes more undisturbed near and closes to the corrugated rings, and hence the pressure drop (PD), Turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), and vorticity also increase. Moreover, as the PCR increases, the friction factor increases and the f for PCR of 100% is considerably higher than other models. The friction factor for PCR is higher than other models by about 7.05, 24.3, 40.7, and 67.1%. Furthermore, the performance evaluation factor is greater than unity.

Automated summary

In this study, through numerical simulations, the flow behavior, pressure drop, and heat transfer enhancement in a corrugated pipe were analyzed. It was found that as the Reynolds number increased, the Nusselt number also increased, and with increased corrugated geometry, the pressure drop, turbulent kinetic energy, and vorticity also increased.