Investigating thermal developing zone of compressible laminar flow inside hot tube

Abstract

Purpose Increasing the temperature of gas flows passing through hot tubes is one of the industrial interests. Operations in the gas phase with high temperature variations involve engineers with the compressible fluids problems. The paper aims to discuss this issue. Design/methodology/approach In this study, a mathematical three-dimensional turbulent model is applied for investigating the heat transfer and laminar gas flow inside the thermal developing zone of a hot tube. The Favre Averaged Navier–Stokes and energy equations and also the Reynolds Stress Model are numerically solved to obtain the fluid velocity and temperature profiles inside this the tube. This model is validated using the experimental data and also well-known formulas in this science. Findings Finally, effects of inlet volumetric flow rate, heating conditions of the tube wall and tube angle on the temperature and velocity distributions of the gaseous phase inside this zone are investigated. Originality/value The compressible laminar gas flow and also heat transfer in the thermal developing zone of a hot tube is studied using a three-dimensional turbulent model.