NUMERICAL INVESTIGATION OF DEPTH RATIO EFFECTS ON THERMOHYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE OF A HEAT EXCHANGER WITH V-CUT TWISTED TAPE
DOI:
10.5281/zenodo.21613820Published:
2026-07-27Downloads
Abstract
Using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), this research evaluates the thermo-hydraulic effects of altering the depth ratio of V-cut twisted tape (VTT) inserts within tubular heat exchangers. Three specific configurations (De/w = 0.25, 0.35, and 0.45) were simulated and compared to baseline cases of plain tubes and traditional twisted tapes. System characteristics were analyzed using flow behavior, Nusselt number, friction factor, and the Performance Evaluation Criterion (PEC). To ensure reliability, the numerical framework was verified using established empirical correlations and experimental data, yielding deviations below 5%. The simulated outcomes indicate that swirl generation, enhanced radial mixing, and thermal boundary-layer disruption drive the heat transfer improvements of the twisted tapes, with the V-cut geometries accelerating vortex generation and fluid recirculation. Although VTT systems successfully optimize thermal dissipation, they incur elevated hydraulic penalties. This trade-off between pressure drop and thermal efficiency is clearly reflected in the PEC trends, where flow visualizations confirm that larger depth ratios significantly augment fluid mixing and thermal restructuring.
Keywords:
Computational Fluid Dynamic Depth Ratio Heat Exchanger Twisted TapeReferences
Assaf, Y., Akroot, A., Alnamasi, K., & Ismail, M. (2025). Investigation Of Heat Transfer Performance In Heat Exchangers Using Hybrid Nanofluids And Twisted Tape Inserts With Fixed Special Rings. Scientific Reports, 15. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-02135-3
Bouregueba, A., Abdelaziz, B., Rachid, S., & Kherrafi, M. (2025). Heat Transfer Enhancement in a Heat Exchanger Tube Using Twisted Tapes with Circular and Hexagonal Perforations. International Journal of Thermodynamics. https://doi.org/10.5541/ijot.1653747
Dagdevir, T., & Ozceyhan, V. (2021). An Experimental Study on Heat Transfer Enhancement and Flow Characteristics of a Tube With Plain, Perforated and Dimpled Twisted Tape Inserts. International Journal of Thermal Sciences, 159(August 2020), 106564. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2020.106564
Diwaker, M. K., & Kumar, A. (2023). Thermo-Hydraulic Performance of Tube Type Heat Exchanger with Semi-Circular Cut Twisted Tape Insert: A Numerical Exploration. Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer Research, 10(1), 159–170. https://doi.org/10.22075/jhmtr.2023.30445.1438
Faturahman, R. A., Waluyo, R., Yuliaji, D., Setiawan, P. H., Maryadi, S. A., Fauzan, M. A., & Juarsa, M. (2026). Analisis Kemampuan Pendinginan Water Cooling Tank (WCT) Berdasarkan Perubahan Daya Heater pada Untai FASSIP-6S. JTERA (Jurnal Teknologi Rekayasa), 10(2), 159. https://doi.org/10.31544/jtera.v10.i2.2025.159-168
Hasan, S., & Naji, Z. (2023). Augmentation Heat Transfer In A Circular Tube Using Twisted - Tape Inserts: A Review. Journal of Engineering and Sustainable Development, 27, 511–526. https://doi.org/10.31272/jeasd.27.4.8
Hu, Y., & Man, Y. (2023). Energy Consumption And Carbon Emissions Forecasting For Industrial Processes: Status, Challenges And Perspectives. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 182, 113405. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2023.113405
Kumar, R., Nandan, G., Dwivedi, G., Kumar, A., & Shrivastava, R. (2021). Modeling of Triangular Perforated Twisted Ttape with V-Cuts in Double Pipe Heat Exchanger. Materials Today: Proceedings, 46, 5389–5395. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2020.09.038
Liang, G., & Mudawar, I. (2019). Review Of Single-Phase And Two-Phase Nanofluid Heat Transfer In Macro-Channels And Micro-Channels. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 136, 324–354. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2019.02.086
Nashee, S. R. (2024). Numerical Simulation of Heat Transfer Enhancement of a Heat Exchanger Tube Fitted with Single and Double-Cut Twisted Tapes. International Journal of Heat and Technology, 42(3), 1003–1010. https://doi.org/10.18280/ijht.420327
Roache, P. J. (1994). Perspective: A Method for Uniform Reporting of Grid Refinement Studies. Journal of Fluids Engineering, 116(3), 405–413. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2910291
Roda-Casanova, V., & Fernandes, C. M. C. G. (2022). A Comparison Of Analytical Methods To Predict The Bulk Temperature In Polymer Spur Gears. Mechanism and Machine Theory, 173(March), 104849. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mechmachtheory.2022.104849
Seibold, F., Ligrani, P., & Weigand, B. (2022). Flow and heat transfer in swirl tubes — A review. International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, 187, 122455. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2021.122455
Singh, S. K., Kacker, R., Chaurasiya, P. K., & Gautam, S. S. (2022). Correlations on heat transfer rate and friction factor of a rectangular toothed v-cut twisted tape exhibiting the combined effects of primary and secondary vortex flows. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 139, 106503. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2022.106503
Sulistiana, A. I., Adinda, A. P., Hakim, B. A., Izza, F. R., & Dianingratri, X. F. (2026). Recovery and Utilization of Waste Heat from Cooler Effluent for Preheating Applications. Journal of Chemical Engineering Research Progress, 3(1), 37–43. https://doi.org/10.9767/jcerp.20597
Thapa, S., Samir, S., Kumar, D.-K., & Singh, S. (2021). A review study on the active methods of heat transfer enhancement in heat exchangers using electroactive and magnetic materials. Materials Today: Proceedings, 45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.matpr.2021.01.382
Thote, S. A., & Singh, N. P. (2023). Analysis of Friction and Heat Transfer Characteristics of Tubes with Trapezoidal Cut Twisted Tape Inserts. Fluid Dynamics and Materials Processing, 19(3), 711–722. https://doi.org/10.32604/fdmp.2022.021651
Turek, V., Kilkovský, B., Daxner, J., Babička Fialová, D., & Jegla, Z. (2024). Industrial Waste Heat Utilization in the European Union—An Engineering-Centric Review. Energies, 17(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/en17092084
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Farrel Rizqiadinata, Damora Rhakasywi, Nicky Yongkimandalan
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Downloads
How to Cite
