An experimental heat transfer study for periodically varying-curvature curved-pipe

Experiments were conducted for water flowing through a varying-curvature curved-pipe inside a larger diameter straight pipe to form a double-pipe heat exchanger with water as the working medium. The heat transfer coefficients were obtained using the Wilson plot method. The effects of the Dean, Prandtl, Reynolds number and the curvature ratio on the average heat transfer coefficients and the friction factors are presented. A higher Dean number results in a higher heat transfer rate. It is found that the heat transfer rate may be increased by up to 100%, as compared with a straight pipe, while the friction coefficient increased by less than 40%. Therefore, it is promising to use S-shaped pipes instead of straight pipes for the performance enhancement for a heat exchanger such as a solar collector.