Numerical Modeling of Turbulent Convective Heat Transfer for Supercritical Pressure Fluids Cooled in Horizontal Tubes

Abstract

Modeling of the turbulent convective heat transfer to supercritical pressure fluids in horizontal circular tubes is achieved through an integral approach, and a traditional mixing length turbulence model is employed into the numerical scheme. Based on this model, heat transfer of supercritical carbon dioxide cooled in circular tubes was investigated numerically. The effects of mass flux, pressure, heat flux and tube diameter on heat transfer coefficient were simulated, and the simulation results were then compared with the experimental data. It is shown that the present model can provide fast and accurate predictions for the heat transfer behavior in the turbulent boundary layer of supercritical fluid flows under cooling conditions.