CFD Simulation of Transverse Vibration Effects on Radial Temperature Profile and Thermal Entrance Length in Laminar Flow

Radial heat transfer in laminar pipe flow is characterized by a wide temperature distribution over the pipe cross-section. We use a validated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model to show that the superimposition of a transverse vibration on the steady laminar flow of a Newtonian fluid moving in a pipe with an isothermal wall, generates considerable chaotic flow and radial mixing which result in a large enhancement in wall heat transfer as well as a considerably more uniform radial temperature field. Transverse vibration also causes the temperature profile to develop very rapidly in the axial direction reducing the thermal entrance length by a large factor. These effects are dependent on vibration amplitude and frequency, and fluid viscosity. (C) 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 57: 51-56, 2011