Thermo-hydraulic performance of liquid phase heat transfer fluid (Therminol) in a ribbed tube

•Heat transfer of Therminol 55 heat transfer fluid is measured in a ribbed tube.•Pressure drop of Therminol 55 heat transfer fluid is measured in a ribbed tube.•Correlations of Nusselt number and friction factor are proposed in a ribbed tube.•Thermal performance enhancement factor and synergy angle are predicted.

Heat transfer coefficient and friction factor of Therminol 55 liquid phase heat transfer fluid are measured and simulated in a ribbed tube with the outer and inner diameters of 19.0 and 15.0 mm, and the pitch and height of the rib of 4.5 and 1.0 mm, respectively. Compared to the heat transfer in the smooth tube, the measured heat transfer in the ribbed tube increases by 3.3–4.6 times for the laminar flow, and by 1.9–3.8 times for the turbulent flow. Comparing to the smooth tube, the measured friction factor in the ribbed tube increases by 2.0–3.1 times for the laminar flow and 3.0–3.9 times for the turbulent flow. Three-dimensional flow behavior and heat transfer is performed by means of FLUENT code in the ribbed tube. The distributions of velocity and temperature are predicted as a function of Reynolds number. The effect of rib height, pitch and rib width on heat transfer and friction factor is discussed. The simulated thermal enhancement factor and synergy angle prove that the ribbed tube can improve heat transfer and fluid flow performances of Therminol liquid phase heat transfer fluid.

Graphical abstractPredicted Nusselt number using regression correlation of Therminol 55 liquid phase heat transfer fluid is in agreement with experimentally measurements in the ribbed tube.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide