Turbulent heat transfer and pressure drop in tube fitted with serrated twisted tape

This paper presents an original experimental study on compound heat transfer enhancement in a tube fitted with serrated twisted tape. The serrations on two sides of the twisted tape with twist ratio of 1.56, 1.88, 2.81 or ∞ are the square-sectioned ribs with the identical rib-pitch and rib-height. The local Nusselt number and Fanning friction factor increase as the twist ratio decreases in the tube fitted with smooth or serrated twisted tape. In the Re range of 5000-25 000, heat transfer augmentation attributed to the serrated twisted tape falls in the range of 250-480% of the plain-tube level. That is about 1.25-1.67 times the heat transfer level in the tube fitted with smooth twisted tape. Fanning friction factors are respectively decreased and increased in the tubes fitted with smooth and serrated twisted tapes as Re increases. Based on the same pumping power consumption, the thermal performances of the tubes with smooth and serrated twisted tapes are compared. A set of empirical correlations that permits the evaluation of the Nusselt number and the Fanning friction factor in the developed flow region for the tubes fitted with smooth and serrated twisted tapes is generated for engineering applications.