How internal fins enhance the thermohydraulic performance of geothermal pipes: A direct numerical simulation study
Niklas Hidman
Division of Fluid Dynamics, Department of Mechanical and Maritime Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
Highlights
• Geothermal pipes with continuous internal fins are evaluated using DNS.
• Aim is to trigger unsteady flow at Re < 2300 and minimize pressure drop at Re > 2300.
• Performance of straight, helical and alternating helical fins assessed.
• Alternating helical fins most efficient at triggering unsteady flows at low Re.
• Number of fins, fin height and twist rate evaluated and promising design proposed.
Published article
