Abstract
Some kinematic and dynamic characteristics of secondary flows in straight tubes are explored for the case where the flow is laminar steady, the fluid is described by the modified Phan-Thien-Tanner model of viscoelastic fluids, and the tube cross-section shape varies through a wide range of configurations. This analysis is aimed at providing information about the transport capacity of secondary flows. Viscoelastic fluids have been observed to enhance heat transfer in pipe flow due to the transversal motion generated in non-circular pipes.
In order to improve the design of heat exchangers it is necessary to understand how some basic variables, such as pipe geometry determine the structure of the corresponding secondary flows. In this paper it is investigated the kinematics and dynamic of some secondary flows for pipe shapes that generate different flows structures.
