Comparison of heat transfer rates between a straight tube heat exchanger and a helically coiled heat exchanger

The purpose of this study was to determine the relative advantage of using a helically coiled heat exchanger versus a straight tube heat exchanger for heating liquids. The particular difference in this study compared to other similar studies was the boundary conditions for the helical coil. Most studies focus on constant wall temperature or constant heat flux, whereas in this study it was a fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger. Results showed that the heat transfer coefficient was effected by the geometry of the heat exchanger and the temperature of the water bath surrounding the heat exchanger. All tests were performed in the transitional and turbulent regimes.