Experimental investigation of the effect of wave turbulators on heat transfer in pipes

This experimental study deals with the heat transfer and friction effects of sinusoidal part turbulators for single-phase flows occurring in a circular shaped pipe. Turbulators with three different radius values are placed in the pipe to make the flow turbulent. In this way, changes in Nusselt number and friction coefficient are examined. As a result of the experiments made with Reynolds numbers in the range of 6614-20710, the increase rates of the Nusselt numbers of turbulators with 20 mm, 110 mm, and 220 mm radius compared to the empty pipe were obtained as 153.49%, 85.36%, and 52.09%, respectively. As a result of the decrease in the radius, there was an increase in the Nusselt number and the friction factor. Parallel to the Nusselt number, the highest friction factor was obtained in the smallest radius turbulator. It was found that the thermal enhancement factors of 110 mm and 220 mm radius turbulators increased by 179.54% and 132.95%, respectively, compared to the 20 mm radius turbulator. Similarly, it was determined that the thermal enhancement factor of the 110 mm radius turbulator increased by 20% compared to the 220 mm radius turbulator.