Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304

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Applied Thermal Engineering

journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/apthermeng

Numerical validation of experimental heat transfer coefcient with

SiO2 nanouid owing in a tube with twisted tape inserts
W.H. Azmi d, 1, K.V. Sharma a, *, P.K. Sarma b, Rizalman Mamat d, 1, Shahrani Anuar d, 1,
L. Syam Sundar c
a
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Seri Iskandar, 31750 Tronoh, Perak, Malaysia
b
GITAM University, Rishikonda, Visakhapatnam, India
c
Center for Mechanical Technology and Automation, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
d
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, 26600 Pekan, Pahang, Malaysia

h i g h l i g h t s

Experiments are undertaken with SiO2 nanouid up to 4% volume concentration.

Numerical model is developed for nanouid ow with twisted tape insert for a wide range of Reynolds number.

SiO2 nanouid gives maximum heat transfer coefcient of 94.1% at 3.0% concentration at a twist ratio 5.

Coefcient of eddy diffusivity and Prandtl index is obtained as a function of Re, concentration and twist ratio.

Numerical results are in good agreement with exp data with SiO2, Al2O3 and Fe3O4 nanouids.

a r t i c l e i n f o a b s t r a c t

Article history: A numerical model has been developed for turbulent ow of nanouids in a tube with twisted tape
Received 27 November 2013 inserts. The model is based on the assumption that van Driest eddy diffusivity equation can be applied by
Accepted 23 July 2014 considering the coefcient and the Prandtl index in momentum and heat respectively as a variable. The
Available online 1 August 2014
results from the numerical analysis are compared with experiments undertaken with SiO2/water
nanouid for a wide range of Reynolds number, Re. Generalized equation for the estimation of nanouid
Keywords:
friction factor and Nusselt number is proposed with the experimental data for twisted tapes. The co-
SiO2 nanouid
efcient and the Prandtl index in the eddy diffusivity equation of momentum and heat is obtained from
Twisted tape
Numerical model
the numerical values as a function of Reynolds number, concentration and twist ratio. An enhancement
van Driest eddy diffusivity equation of 94.1% in heat transfer coefcient and 160% higher friction factor at Re 19,046 is observed at a twist
Heat transfer coefcient ratio of ve with 3.0% volumetric concentration when compared to ow of water in a tube. A good
Friction factor agreement with the limited experimental data of other investigators is observed with Al2O3 and Fe3O4
nanouids indicating the validity of the numerical model for use with twisted tape inserts.
2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

1. Introduction Passive heat transfer augmentation using twisted tapes, longitu-

Tape inserts are commonly used for heat transfer enhancement
in several applications involving heat recovery, solar heating, air
conditioning and refrigeration systems, chemical reactors, etc.
* Corresponding author. Tel./fax: 60 053687163.
E-mail addresses: wanazmi2010@gmail.com (W.H. Azmi), sharma.korada@
petronas.com.my, kvsharmajntu@gmail.com (K.V. Sharma), sarmapk@yahoo.com
(P.K. Sarma), rizalman@ump.edu.my (R. Mamat), shahrani@ump.edu.my
(S. Anuar), sslingala@gmail.com (L. Syam Sundar).
1
Tel.: 60 9 4246338/fax: 60 9 4242202.
dinal inserts, wire coil insert, etc for a wide range of Reynolds and
Prandtl numbers have been reported by Bergles [1]. The twisted
tape causes the ow to swirl, providing longer path and residence
time thereby enhancing heat transfer. They are commonly
employed in heat exchangers due to ease in their manufacture and
low cost. However, the pressure drop with the insert is higher due
to reduced ow area and additional resistance offered by the tape
surface area when compared to ow in a plain tube.
Experimental investigations were undertaken by various in-
vestigators with pure uids [2e9]. Smithberg and Landis [2] un-
dertook experiments with air as the working medium. They

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2014.07.060
1359-4311/ 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304
observed increased pressure drop due to vortex ow caused by the
twisted tape which continuously mixes the uid owing at the
core and developed a semi-empirical model for the estimation of
friction factor. Thorsen and Landis [3] extended the analysis to
develop a correlation equation for the estimation of Nusselt
number using the experimental data of water. Lopina and Bergles
[4] developed a superposition model for the estimation of Nusselt
number accounting for increased speed due to tape insert and
centrifugal buoyancy due to ow in the tube. They observed an
increase of 20% in the Nusselt number with tight t in comparison
to reduced width tapes. Manglik and Bergles [5] conducted
experimental investigations with twisted tape inserts using water
and ethylene glycol in the turbulent range of Reynolds number.
They developed a correlation equation for the estimation of Nus-
selt number based on an asymptotic model for isothermal condi-
tion of the wall. Ayub and Al-Fahed [6] observed the effect of gap
between the tube and tape insert on the pressure drop under
turbulent ow of water. The pressure drop increased with tape
width. Naphon [7] has undertaken experimental studies in the
turbulent range for ow in tubes and with twisted tape inserts. A
correlation equation was developed which is valid for the Rey-
nolds number and twist ratio in the range of 7000 < Re < 23,000
and 3.1  H/D  5.5. Akhavan-Behabadi et al. [8] conducted ex-
periments with condensing refrigerant R-134a at different mass
ow rates and developed correlations for the determination of
heat transfer coefcients. Chang et al. [9] developed a set of
empirical equations for the estimation of turbulent heat transfer
and pressure drop with smooth and serrated twisted tapes. They
observed heat transfer enhancements with smooth walled tapes to
be greater than with serrated tapes at large twist ratios. The
thermal performance at smaller twist ratios with smooth and
serrated tapes was similar.
The theoretical modeling considered the effect of turbulence
due to spiral ow and heat conduction in the tape. Date [10]
undertook numerical analysis to predict friction factor and heat
transfer for fully developed laminar and turbulent ow. The nu-
merical procedure of Gosman et al. [11] was modied by Date
[10] for the convergence of results. Chiu and Jang [12] undertook
three dimensional numerical and experimental analysis with
tapes of three twist angles and horizontal longitudinal strips with
and without holes. They performed the experiments with air as
the working medium and observed enhancement in heat transfer
coefcient and pressure drop with longitudinal inserts and
twisted tapes. The heat transfer coefcients with twisted tapes
was higher compared to longitudinal inserts for both types of
inserts having holes and without. Herwig and Kock [13] devel-
oped a tool from thermodynamic point of view for evaluating
heat transfer performance under turbulent ow in a pipe with
twisted tape inserts. Turbulence modeling of the ow phenom-
enon indicated a reduction in the overall entropy production in a
certain range of twist ratios when compared to ow in a plain
tube.
Recent interest in the use of nanouids for possible heat transfer
augmentation has drawn the attention of many investigators
[14e25]. Experiments to determine turbulent heat transfer co-
efcients and pressure drop for ow of nanouids in a tube has
been initiated by Pak and Cho [14]. Computational analysis has
been undertaken by Roy et al. [15], Palm et al. [16], Khaled and Vafai
[17], Maga et al. [18], Bianco et al. [19], Fard et al. [20], and Nam-
buru et al. [21] for different nanouids, particle sizes, operating
temperatures in the laminar and turbulent range of Reynolds
number. A theoretical model for the evaluation of nanouid heat
transfer coefcient has been presented by Sarma et al. [22] for
turbulent ow in a tube. They developed an eddy diffusivity
equation of momentum and heat and showed good agreement of
295
numerical results with the experimental data of Al2O3/water
nanouid.
Experiments with nanouids ow over twisted tape in the
turbulent range of Reynolds number are due Sundar and Sharma
[23]. They conducted experiments with Al2O3/water nanouid in
the range of 10,000 < Re < 22,000 and 0  H/D  83. The results
indicated enhancements in heat transfer coefcient and friction
factor of Al2O3/water nanouid to be respectively 33.5% and 109.6%
with 0.5% concentration and twist ratio ve compared to ow of
water in a tube. In another paper, Sundar et al. [24] conducted
experiments with Fe3O4/water nanouid and obtained enhance-
ments of 51.9% and 123.1% in heat transfer coefcient and friction
factor respectively compared to ow of water in a tube under
similar operating conditions. Chandrasekar et al. [25] conducted
experiments with Al2O3/water nanouid with wire coiled inserts in
the laminar Reynolds number range of 600 < Re < 2275. Sekhar
et al. [26] conducted experiments with Al2O3 nanouid and twisted
tapes in mixed laminar ow range valid for solar thermal applica-
tions. Salman et al. [27] undertook CFD analysis to predict heat
transfer and friction factor with Cu/water nanouid using con-
ventional and parabolic-cut twisted tapes of twist ratio 2.93, 3.91
and 4.89.
Numerical analysis for the determination of nanouid heat
transfer coefcient and friction factor with twisted tape insert in
the turbulent range of Reynolds number has not been undertaken
till now. The turbulence models of discrete zone and continuous
type available in the literature are applicable to pure uids. How-
ever, the ow due to the presence of solid particles in a nanouid
can be different from that of pure uid, as the particles can absorb a
portion of the turbulent kinetic energy. Further, the models are
applicable to uid ow in a plain tube.
Hence, the turbulence models are to be modied for nanouid
ow over a twisted tape insert, to accommodate for the deviations
in the ow characteristics. The model of van Driest with the tur-
bulent characteristics reected in the eddy diffusivity equation is
considered in the analysis. The equation is applicable as the
nanouids considered in the range of concentration are assumed
homogenous. However, the coefcient K and the index of Prandtl
number x in the equation of momentum and heat respectively is
treated as variables, as the nanouid characteristics deviate from
that of a pure liquid.
The experimental data of heat transfer coefcients and pressure
drop available in the literature for ow over twisted tape insert is
limited for nanouids. Hence, experiments are undertaken with
SiO2/water nanouid for a wide range of Reynolds number and
concentration. The results from the numerical model for different
operating conditions are compared with the experimental data and
for predicting the ow characteristics.
2. Properties of nanouids
The properties of SiO2 nanouid at different concentrations are
required in the analysis. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of
nanouid is determined using KD2 Pro thermal property analyzer
and Brookeld LVDV-III Ultra Rheometer respectively. The experi-
mental values of viscosity and thermal conductivity available in the
literature are used in the development of Eqs. (1) and (2) by Sharma
et al. [28]. The values of viscosity and thermal conductivity of SiO2
nanouids are observed to be in good agreement with the equa-
tions given by:


0:038

mnf f 11:3 T dp 0:061
mr 1 1 nf 1 (1)
mw 100 70 170
296 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304


0:2777
knf f 1:37 T
kr 0:8938 1 1 nf
kw 100 70



dp 0:0336 ap 0:01737
 1
150 aw
The equations for density and specic heat of nanouid, based
on mixture relation used in the analysis, is given as.
rnf 4rp 1  4rw
1  4rCw 4rCp
Cnf
1  4rw 4rp
Equations (1)e(4) are used in the numerical analysis to deter-
mine the properties along with the property relations of water
given in Table 1.
3. Experimental procedure
The experimental setup is integrated with a circulating pump,
ow meter, heater, control panel, thermocouples, pressure trans-
ducer, chiller, collecting tank, and the test section. The heaters
enclose a copper tube of 1.5 m with inner diameter and outer
diameter respectively, 16 mm and 19 mm which constitutes the test
section. The total length of uid ow in the tube is approximately
4.0 m which ensures fully developed turbulent ow conditions. The
schematic diagram of the experimental setup Fig. 1a presented by
Azmi et al. [29] is shown along with the twisted tape conguration
Fig. 1b.
A 0.5 horse power pump connected to a collecting tank of
0.03 m3 capacity is used to circulate the working uid through the
test section. The outer diameter of the test section is wrapped with
two nichrome heaters each of 1500 W rating. The tube is enclosed
with ceramic ber insulation to minimize heat loss to the sur-
roundings. Seven K-type thermocouples are xed at different lo-
cations, ve on the surface of the tube wall at 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0 and
1.25 m from the inlet and the other two are located at the inlet and
outlet to measure the temperatures of the working uid. A ow
meter which works in the range of 5e16 LPM is connected between
the pump and the inlet to test section. A chiller of 1.4 kW rating is
located between the test section and the collecting tank.
A constant power of 600 W is supplied to the heater, while the
chiller is adjusted to obtain a uid bulk temperature of 30  C with a
deviation of 1  C at all ow rates and nanouid concentration. A
pressure transducer connected across the test section records the
pressure drop. A data logger records the surface and uid tem-
peratures every ve seconds to determine the steady state nature of
the experiment. The uncertainties in the measuring instruments
are given by Azmi et al. [29].
With the experimental setup, tests are undertaken with distilled
water to determine the pressure drop and heat transfer coefcients
at various ow rates. The ow rate, the pressure drop across the
length of the tube, the temperatures of the uid at the inlet and
Table 1
Regression equations for the estimation of water properties.
Properties Regression equation
" #
Density [36]
rw 1000  1:0 
1190001365Tw 4Tw 2
Viscosity mw 0.00169  4.25263e  5  Tw 4.9255e  7  (Tw)2  2.0993504e  9  (Tw)3
Thermal conductivity kw 0.56112 0.00193  Tw  2.60152749e  6  (Tw)2  6.08803e  8  (Tw)3
Specic heat Cw 4217.629  3.20888  Tw 0.09503  (Tw)2  0.00132  (Tw)3 9.415e  6  (Tw)4  2.5479e  8  (Tw)5
outlet, and the surface temperatures are recorded under steady
state condition. The experimental values of friction factor and heat
(2) transfer coefcient are evaluated using Darcy pressure drop and
Newton's law of cooling equations, respectively. The maximum
errors in the experimental data for friction factor and heat transfer
coefcient are 4.4% and 0.92%, respectively. The uncertainty anal-
ysis is detailed by Azmi et al. [29]. The reliability and repeatability
of the values with water is ensured before undertaking experi-
(3) ments with SiO2 nanouid in the concentration range of 0.5e4.0%
at various Reynolds number. About 100 ml of nanouid is drawn
before and after the conduct of experiment at every concentration
to evaluate the state of dispersion by measuring its electrical
(4)
conductivity. The experimental setup and the procedure under-
taken for the determination of friction factor and heat transfer
coefcient for ow of water and nanouid in a tube is detailed by
Azmi et al. [30]. The experimental procedure is repeated for water
and nanouid with tapes of twist ratios 5, 10 and 15 inserted in the
tube.
4. Formulation of the mathematical model
The modeling of turbulence due to twisted tape insert using
eddy diffusivity equation has been initiated by Sarma et al. [31].
They included the effect of centrifugal forces and other secondary
ows due to tape insert by considering the constant K in the eddy
diffusivity Eq. (5) of van Driest [32] as a function of twist ratio and
Reynolds number. The damping constant A in Eq. (5) remained
unaltered at 26 for ow over twisted tapes. The analysis employed
the friction factor relation of Smithberg and Landis [2] in the esti-
mation of heat transfer coefcient. They obtained a good agree-
ment of the numerical results with their experimental values and
that of others. The turbulence characteristics of uid ow with
twisted tape insert in a tube has been presented with regression Eq.
(6) undertaken with the numerical data.
m h n  oi2 vu
Ky 1  exp  y =A (5)
n vy

0:3737
H
K 3:3891Re0:0914 and A 26 (6)
D
Equation (6) is valid in the range of 10,000 < Re < 100,000 and
4 < H/D < 15 and applicable to pure uids. The present analysis is
undertaken for nanouid ow over tapes. The numerical procedure
of Sarma et al. [22] is adapted in the evaluation of the turbulent
characteristics. The salient assumptions made in the development
of the mathematical model are listed.
a) The SiO2/water nanouid behaves as a homogenous uid having
uniform properties.
b) The properties of the nanouids can be estimated with Eqs.
(1)e(4) and that of water given in Table 1.
c) The total momentum exchange of the nanouid is due to mo-
lecular and eddy viscous forces given by
Tw 4:02
 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304 297

Fig. 1. (a) Schematic diagram of the experimental setup of Azmi et al. [29]. (b) Conguration of twisted tape of Azmi et al. [29].
" # !
m vu m vu
t mnf 1 (7) f Ky u ; K 2 y2 where K is a constant (10)
nnf vy nnf vy

d) The viscosity of the nanouid is observed to be independent g) The eddy diffusivity of heat is related to momentum through the
of the shear rate and hence Newtonian theory is applicable relationship
for concentration less than 4.0%. The shear distribution
across the tube is assumed to be linear given in non " #
dimensional form as
H m  x
Prnf (11)
anf nnf
" #
t y where, x f(f, R and H/D)
1 (8)
tw R
h) The inuence of nanoparticle in the base liquid can be
assessed, since it is established for pure uids

e) The thermal exchange is due to a combination of molecular and " #

eddy diffusivities given by H m  
Prf for Prf > 1 (12)
af nf
!
  vT H vT
q rnf Cnf anf H or q knf 1 (9)
vy anf vy
4.1. Nanouid friction factor

f) By dimensional reasoning, the eddy viscosity can be assumed as Experimental values of friction factor for ow of SiO2 nanouid
a function of in a tube with tape inserts are determined. A regression equation is
298 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304

developed with the present data of water, SiO2 and the data of Azmi
et al. [29] with TiO2 with an average deviation of 5.0%, standard
deviation of 5.7% and a maximum deviation of 16.4% given by.


fnf f 0:05
1:4 0:001 (13)
fSL 100

  1:2

H Rep n
where fSL 4 0:046 2:1  0:5
D 2p
"
0:5 # (13a)
H
where n 0:2 1 1:7
D

valid in the range of 6800 < Re < 30,000, 5.00  Pr  7.24, f  4.0%
and 5  H/D  15.
The experimental values of nanouid friction factor are in good
agreement with the values estimated with Eq. (13) in the turbulent
range as shown in Fig. 2.

4.2. Nanouid Nusselt number Fig. 2. Validation of experimental data with Eq. (13).

The Nusselt number estimated with the experimental values of 2. The dimensionless Reynolds number for ow of nanouid in a
SiO2 nanouid at different concentrations is subjected to regression tube is given by
using 323 data points. Equation (14) is obtained with an average ZR  . 
deviation of 4.1%, standard deviation of 5.1% and maximum devi-
Re 4 u 1  y R dy (17)
ation of 15.3% given by.
0


hnf D D 1:3
Nunf 0:073Re0:702 Prnf
0:4
1 (14) 3. The friction factor is estimated from the relation
knf H

valid in the range of 6800 < Re < 30,000, 5.00  Pr  7.24, f  4.0%
" #2
R
and 5  H/D  15. The Nusselt number estimated with Eq. (14) is in fth 8 (18)
Re
good agreement with the experimental data of water and nanouid
as shown in Fig. 3.
4. The value of K from the numerical analysis is accepted if the
deviation from the relation [(fnf  fth)  100/fnf] is less than
4.3. Evaluation of momentum eddy diffusivity
0.001 for the given input value of R. If the condition is not
satised, linear extrapolation is employed for evaluating the
Equations (10) and (11) are solved based on the assumption that
value of K till such time the criterion is satised.
nanouid obeys Newtonian relation between shear stress and the
rate of shear deformation to determine the value of K in eddy
Steps 1 to 4 are repeated and the computations carried out for
diffusivity Eq. (5). Equation (8) with the aid of Eq. (7) can be written
the Reynolds number range of 3000 < Re < 100,000. The variation
in non dimensional form as.
! !
du y m
1 = 1 for the condition u 0 at y 0;
dy R ynf
(15)
Combining Eqs. (5) and (15), the velocity prole can be obtained
from.
v
!
u 
u   2 
t
1 1 4 K y 2 2 1  exp  y A 1  R y

du
   2 
dy 2 K 2 y2 1  exp  y A
(16)

The value of A 26 in Eq. (16) given by van Driest [32] is
retained for nanouid also. The assumption is made due to ho-
mogeneous nature of the nanouid. The numerical procedure
adopted by Sarma et al. [22] is reiterated in brief for clarity.
Steps in the evaluation of K:

1. The velocity prole can be obtained from Eq. (16) for an

assumed initial value of K as 0.03 till y / R. Fig. 3. Validation of experimental data with Eq. (14).
 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304 299

of friction factor with Reynolds is compared with other in-

vestigators [4,5,29] as shown in Fig. 4.

4.4. Evaluation of eddy diffusivity of heat

Equation (11) relates eddy diffusivity of momentum with heat.

The value of Prandtl index x in Eq. (11) is dependent on temperature
proles across the tube. The temperature prole depends on
nanouid Prandtl number in addition to Reynolds number and
twist ratio H/D. With tape insert, the ow is both hydro dynamically
and thermally developed. Hence, neglecting the convective
component, the energy equation considering eddy conduction in
non dimensional form can be written as.
" ! #
v m x vT
1 Pr 0 where T T  TC =TW  TC
vy nnf vy
(19)
Fig. 5. Comparison of Nusselt number with other investigators for water.
with the boundary conditions that at y 0, T 1, and y R,
T 0.
6. Equation (21) is used for obtaining the temperature correction
The Nusselt number is estimated from the relation.
factor.
 7. For a given value of R, H/D and f, the absolute value of Nusselt
vT  TW  TC
Nuth 2R (20) number estimated with Eq. (20) is referred as Nuth.
vy y 0 TW  TB

8. The experimental value of Nusselt number is referred as Nuexp,
The temperature correction term (T W  TC)/(T W  TB) is evalu- determined from the correlation Eq. (14).
ated along with the velocity and temperature proles with the 9. The Prandtl index x is accepted, if the deviation between the
relation. values obtained from theory and experiment calculated with the
relation [(Nuexp  Nuth)  100/Nuexp] is less than 0.001. Other-
Z R  .  wise, linear extrapolation is employed for evaluation of' x till
u 1  y R dy such time the criterion is satised.
TW  TC 0
Z R   .  (21)
TW  TB
u 1  T 1  y R dy Steps 6 to 9 are repeated and the computations in the Reynolds
0 number range of 3000 < Re < 100,000 carried out to determine
Steps in the evaluation of Prandtl index x: Prandtl index x for various values of concentration f and twist ratio
The procedure for obtaining the velocity prole is outlined in H/D. The variation of Nusselt number with Reynolds is compared
section 4.3. The subsequent analysis is a conjoint with the previous with other investigators [4,5,29] in Fig. 5.
program for the determination of K.
5. Results and discussion
5. Equation (19) is solved with the initial value of x 1 (applicable

for water) and the temperature gradient vT =vy y 0 esti- Experiments are undertaken in the turbulent range of Reynolds
mated for a given twist ratio. number with water and SiO2 nanouid for ow in a tube with

Fig. 4. Comparison of friction factor with other investigators for water. Fig. 6. Experimental friction factor for ow in tube and with twisted tape.
300 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304
Fig. 7. Comparison of experimental friction factor with numerical results.
twisted tape inserts and compared with the numerical results. The
values of friction factor and Nusselt number estimated with Eqs.
(13) and (14) are compared with other investigators as shown in
Figs. 4 and 5 for water at a twist ratio 9 and Pr 5. A satisfactory
agreement between the investigators can be observed. The devia-
tion amongst the values obtained by the investigators for friction
factor and Nusselt number may be due to different values of pipe
and tape roughness used by them.
The experimental values of friction factor for ow of water and
nanouid in a tube and with tape insert of twist ratio 5 is shown in
Fig. 6. Evidently the values of friction factor obtained with tape
inserts are greater than the values obtained with a plain tube. The
experimental values of friction factor are compared for water and
nanouid with the numerical results in Fig. 7 for two values of twist
ratio, H/D 5 and 10. A good agreement of the experimental data
with the numerical results can be observed.
The variation of dimensionless velocity and temperature with
non-dimensional radial distance is shown in Figs. 8 and 9 respec-
tively at a Reynolds number of 25,000. The velocity proles for
water and nanouid volume concentration of 4.0% is shown for
Fig. 8. Velocity proles of water and nanouid for different H/D ratios.
Fig. 9. Temperature proles of water and nanouid for different H/D ratios.
three twist ratios in Fig. 8. It can be observed that lower velocities
are obtained with nanouid (shown as lines 2a, 2b and 2c)
compared to ow of water at all twist ratios. This may be due to
particle drag on the bulk movement of the uid inducing resistance
to ow. As the twist ratio increases, the ow characteristics
approach that of a plain tube with greater velocities.
The local temperature variation of water and 4.0% nanouid
concentration is shown for twist ratios H/D 5 and 25 in Fig. 9. The
thermal conductivity and diffusivity of nanouid is greater than
water which might be reason for obtaining lower temperatures. It
can be observed that the temperature of water and nanouid does
not vary signicantly with twist ratio. The variation can be
observed in the temperature gradients of water and nanouid for a
twist ratio. A decrease in twist ratio increases turbulence and hence
lower temperatures can be expected with nanouid and water.
The characteristics of turbulence reected through the eddy
diffusivity values is shown for water and nanouid for 4.0% con-
centration in Fig. 10 for twist ratios of H/D 5, 10 and 25. The eddy
diffusivity increases with concentration due to increase in the
turbulence caused by greater number of nanoparticles. An increase
Fig. 10. Variation of eddy diffusivity with radial distance.
 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304 301

Fig. 11. Variation of K in the eddy diffusivity expression of van Driest with Reynolds
number for 5  H/D  25 and 0  f  4.0.
Fig. 13. Validation of coefcient K and Prandtl exponent x.

in eddy diffusivity can be observed with a decrease in twist ratio as

when the twist ratio is enhanced from 5 to 15, which is in agree-
shown in Fig. 10 for Re 25000. The values are higher for nanouid
ment with the value of 0.91 proposed by Cebeci [33].
compared to that of water at all twist ratios. The trend supports the
Based on the validation of experimental values, the numerical
enhancement in shear resistance and wall heat ux of nanouid in
data of water and nanouid is subjected to regression in two forms;
comparison to water.
as a function of (Re, f and H/D) and (R, f and H/D) in the devel-
The coefcient of eddy diffusivity K in van Driest Eq. (5) varies
opment of equations for coefcient K in Eq. (5) and the index of
with Reynolds number, nanouid concentration and twist ratio as
Prandtl x in Eq. (11). The equations obtained are given by.
shown in Fig. 11. The values of K for water are lower than nanouid
at a twist ratio. The value decreases with increase in twist ratio for


water and nanouid. An increase in the value of twist ratio H/D to f 0:04767 H 0:3741
K 4:957Re0:0936 0:001 (22)
25, the characteristics of ow approach that of a plain tube. This is 100 D
evident from K approaching a constant value of 0.4 which is
applicable to single phase uids such as water.  0:1097


f 0:05039 H 0:3956
The variation of the index of Prandtl number x in the eddy K 4:318 R 0:001 (23)
100 D
diffusivity of heat with Reynolds number for the three twist ratios is
shown in Fig. 12. It can be observed that x increases with twist ratio



and does not vary signicantly with the Reynolds number. The f 0:08542 H 0:6527
values increase with a decrease in nanouid concentration at a x 0:1156Re0:04084 0:001 0:1
100 D
twist ratio. The values of x approach 1.0 for water at Re 10,000,
(24)

Fig. 12. Variation of Prandtl exponent x with concentration and twist ratio, H/D. Fig. 14. Comparison of SiO2 Nusselt numbers with numerical results for H/D 5.
302 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304
Fig. 15. Comparison of SiO2 Nusselt numbers with numerical results for different twist
ratios at f 1.5%.
 0:0509

f 0:0842


H 0:6427
x 0:1115 R 0:001 0:1
100 D for SiO2 nanouid are shown in comparison with the experimental
(25)
Equations (22) and (23) are obtained with an average deviation
of 2.2% and standard deviation of 3.0%. Equations (24) and (25) are
obtained with an average deviation of 5.5% and standard deviation
of 7.1%. The Eqs. (22)e(25) are valid in the range of 0  f  4.0%,
200  R  4000, 3000  Re  100,000, 5  H/D  15. The values
estimated with Eqs. (22)e(25) are validated with the results from
theory as shown in Fig. 13.
The experimental data of Nusselt number obtained at various
concentrations for H/D 5 is enclosed by the lines drawn with
f 0 and f 4.0% in Fig. 14. It can be observed that the experi-
mental Nusselt number increase with concentration up to 3.0% and
decrease thereafter. A decrease in Nusselt number is also observed
at other H/D ratios of 10 and 15, when the concentration is
increased to more than 3.0%. Similar observation of decrease in
Fig. 16. Comparison of Al2O3 Nusselt numbers with numerical results for different
twist ratios.
Fig. 17. Comparison of Fe3O4 Nusselt numbers with numerical results for H/D 5.
Nusselt number with TiO2/water nanouid by Duangthongsuk and
Wongwises [34] at 1.0% concentration and Al2O3/water by Pak and
Cho [14] at 2.78% concentration at a bulk temperature of 25  C has
been observed. The numerical values of Nusselt number estimated
data for three twist ratios in Fig. 15. A good agreement between the
theory and experiment is obtained for nanouid volume concen-
tration of f 1.5% for the twist ratios undertaken.
The numerical model is further validated with the experimental
data of Sundar and Sharma [23] and Sharma et al. [35] undertaken
with Al2O3/water nanouid at 0.5% concentration for different H/D
ratios in Fig. 16. The experimental data with Fe3O4/water nanouid
undertaken by Sundar et al. [24] at 0.6% concentration is shown in
comparison with the numerical results in Fig. 17 for H/D 5. The
numerical results are in good agreement with the experimental
values of Nusselt numbers shown through Figs. 14e17, thus vali-
dating the model and the reliability of the numerical results.
6. Conclusions
The experimental data undertaken for ow over twisted tape
inserts with SiO2 nanouid are in good agreement with the nu-
merical results. The property Eqs. (1)e(4), along with Eqs. (13) and
(14) respectively for friction factor and Nusselt number employed
in the analysis, predicts Al2O3 and Fe3O4 experimental data of
Sundar and Sharma [23], Sundar et al. [24] and Sharma et al. [35]
thus validating the model and supporting the generality of the
equations presented. The coefcient K and the index of Prandtl x in
the eddy diffusivity equation of momentum and heat respectively
can be estimated with Eqs. (22)e(25). The experimental results
indicate 29.6% enhancement in heat transfer coefcient and 23.7%
greater friction factor at 3.0% concentration when compared to
water at a twist ratio of 5.0. The values are 94.1% and 160% greater
compared to ow of water in a tube. The heat transfer coefcients
decrease when undertaken for concentrations greater than 3.0% at
the nanouid bulk temperature of 30  C.
Acknowledgements
The nancial support by Universiti Malaysia Pahang under
GRS100354 and RDU130391 are gratefully acknowledged. The cor-
responding author thanks the Jawaharlal Nehru Technological Uni-
versity Hyderabad for the academic support rendered in this regard.
 W.H. Azmi et al. / Applied Thermal Engineering 73 (2014) 294e304 303

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