Experimental investigation of the effect of newly developed turbulators on heat efficiency and pressure loss in heat exchangers

Population growth, rapid urbanization and technological advances is to increase the energy demand. The possibility of existing energy resources' depletion has led people to look for new energy sources. In addition, it is important to use the existing energy resources as efficiently as possible. One of the issues to be considered in energy efficiency is also turbulators. In the industry, turbulators used in heat exchangers provide improvements in heat transfer. The aim of this study is to determine how number and sequences in usage areas of newly designed turbulators affects the efficiency. In this respect, newly designed turbulators of different numbers and sequences are placed into having constant surface temperature a heat exchanger. Inputoutput temperatures, pressure, flow, velocity measurements were taken from different points of heat exchanger. The effect of these on thermal efficiency, pressure loss, friction factor, efficiency, exergy loss rate, NTU values were investigated. According to the experimental results, increases in thermal efficiency, pressure loss and friction factors were observed with increasing number of turbulators.