Flow and thermal mechanisms in a heat exchanger tube inserted with twisted cross-baffle turbulators

[Display omitted] •Effect of twisted cross-baffles on flow and thermal mechanisms is performed.•Twisted cross-baffle offered the highest thermal enhancement of 1.7.•Twisted cross-baffle created longitudinal vortex/swirl around tube core. The turbulent forced convective heat transfer behaviors in a tube inserted with baffle turbulators (typical straight baffles, straight cross-baffles, straight alternate-baffles, twisted-baffles, alternate twisted-baffles, and twisted cross-baffles) have been experimentally and numerically investigated. The influence of pitch ratio (P/D) from 1.0 to 2.0 and Reynolds numbers (Re) from 6000 to 20,000 are also reported. Among the studied turbulators, the twisted cross-baffles gave the highest heat transfer enhancement and thermal enhancement factor while the straight cross-baffles gave the lowest heat transfer rate and thermal enhancement factor. The twisted-baffles, alternate twisted-baffles, and twisted cross-baffles created high longitudinal vortex/swirl around the tube core. The strongest longitudinal vortex/swirl was achieved by the use of twisted cross-baffles. The recirculation flows were found in the tube fitted with straight baffles (a recirculation flow), straight alternate-baffles (double recirculation flows) and straight cross-baffles (quadruple recirculation flows). The heat transfer rate, friction factor and thermal enhancement factor increased with decreasing pitch ratio (P/D) and increasing Reynolds number (Re). At the optimum condition of the smallest pitch ratio (P/D=1.0) and the lowest Reynolds number (Re=6000), the twisted cross-baffles offered the highest thermal enhancement factor of 1.7.