Heat Transfer of Dilute Polyacrylamide Solutions in Flattened Tube Exchangers

Abstract

Heat transfer studies of dilute viscoelastic liquids in four flattened tubes with 0.635 cm original diameter, about 173 cm long, and with aspect ratios ranging from 1.4 to 5.7 were conducted. Hot water was used as the heating medium, and dilute solutions of polyacrylamide in water and in water mixtures were used as the viscoelastic solutions. Flattening the tubes could increase heat transfer by 101%, while secondary flow could further increase heat transfer coefficient by 75% at an aspect ratio of 1.6. Greater polyacrylamide concentrations increased heat transfer performance marginally. Viscosity does not influence the formation of secondary flow.

Keywords:

• flattened tube
• heat transfer enhancement
• optimum aspect ratio
• viscoelastic solution