Heat Transfer and Pressure Drop Characteristics of Laminar Flow in Rectangular and Square Plain Ducts and Ducts With Twisted-Tape Inserts

The present paper reports the results of an experimental investigation of the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of laminar flow of viscous oil through horizontal rectangular and square plain ducts and ducts inserted with full-length twisted tapes, short-length twisted tapes, and regularly spaced twisted-tape elements. Isothermal pressure drop measurements were taken in acrylic ducts. Heat transfer measurements were taken in electrically heated stainless-steel ducts imposing uniform wall heat flux boundary conditions. The duct aspect ratios AR were 1, 0.5, and 0.333. The twist ratios of the twisted tapes were $y=2.692$⁠, 5.385, 2.597, 5.193, 2.308, and 4.615. Short-length tapes were 0.9, 0.7, and 0.5 times the duct length. The space ratios were $s=2.692$⁠, 5.385, 2.597, 5.193, 2.308, and 4.615. Both friction factor and Nusselt number increase with decreasing $y$ and AR for $AR⩽1$ and increasing Re, Sw, and Pr. As the tape-length decreases, both friction factor and Nusselt number decrease. Friction factor increases as $s$ decreases, and Nusselt number increases as $s$ increases. Isothermal friction factor correlation and comprehensive Nusselt number correlation have been developed to predict data reasonably well in the entire range of parameters. Performance evaluation says that short-length twisted tapes are worse and regularly spaced twisted-tape elements are better than the full-length twisted tapes.