Enhanced Heat Transfer for Various Gases Flowing Over a Twisted Heater Due to Exponentially Increasing Heat Input

Forced convection transient heat transfer coefficients were measured for various gases (helium, nitrogen, argon and carbon dioxide gas) flowing over a twisted heater due to exponentially increasing heat input (Q₀exp(t/τ)). The platinum ribbon with a thickness of 0.1 mm and a width of 4.0 mm was used as the test heater. It was twisted at the center of the heater with an angle of 45 and 90 degrees with respect to the upper part of the heater. The heat generation rate was exponentially increased with a function of Q₀exp(t/τ). The gas flow velocities ranged from 1 to 10 m/s, the gas temperatures ranged from 313 to 353 K, and the periods of heat generation rate ranged from 45 ms to 17 s. The surface temperature difference and heat flux increase exponentially as the heat generation rate increases with exponential function. The heat transfer coefficients for twisted heater were compared with those of a plate heater. They are 13 ∼ 28% higher than those of the plate one. The geometric effect (twisted effect) of heater in this study shows an enhancement on the heat transfer coefficient. This is because the heat transfer coefficients are affected by the change in the flow due to swirling flow on the twisted heater. And also, it was understood that heat transfer coefficient increase with the angle of twisted heater due to swirl motion and raised turbulence intensity. Empirical correlations for quasi-steady-state heat transfer and transient one were obtained based on the experimental data.