Abstract
An improved method for heat transfer calculations inside rough tubes is provided. The model has been obtained from a second assessment developed early by the authors on fluid flow in single-phase inside rough tubes. The proposed correlation has been verified by comparison with a total of 1666 experimental available data of 34 different Newtonian fluids, including air, gases, water and organic liquids. The proposed model covers a validity range for Prandtl number ranging from 0.65 to values of Reynolds number from to , a range of relative roughness ranging from to , and viscosity ratio from 0.0048 to 181.5. The proposed model provides a good correlation for and , with an average error of 18.3% for 70.4% of the data and 16.6% for 74.8% of the data, respectively. The method presents a satisfactory agreement with the experimental data in each interval evaluated; therefore, the model can be considered accurate enough for practical applications. At the present time, a method with similar characteristics is unknown in the available technical literature.