Experimental Investigation of the Flow and Heat Transfer in a Helically Corrugated Cooling Channel

The detailed flow field and heat transfer were experimentally investigated in a channel with a circular cross section and equipped with a helical rib of low blockage ratio. Stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (S-PIV) was applied in order to measure the three components of the mean and turbulent velocities in the symmetry plane of the channel. Additionally, steady-state liquid crystal thermography (LCT) and infrared thermography were employed in order to study the convective heat transfer coefficient on the wall. Measurements were carried out more than six pitches downstream of the rib origin, presenting periodic velocity and heat transfer fields from this location on. The resulting velocity and heat transfer fields show similarities with those present in channels of plane walls, such as low momentum and heat transfer areas upstream and downstream of the obstacle, and high kinetic energy and heat transfer a few rib heights downstream of the obstacle. On the other hand, the shape of the rib induces a swirling motion with the same sense as the rib. The azimuthal mean velocity is negligible in the core of the pipe, but it increases considerably close to the wall.