Advanced passive heat transfer enhancement: numerical analysis of TiO₂-water nanofluid flow in tubes fitted with twisted tape and conical ring inserts
Corresponding Author(s) : Itquan Hossen
Future Energy,
Vol. 5 No. 1 (2026): In Press
Abstract
The primary objective of this study is to investigate the heat transfer enhancement, friction factor, and thermal performance factor of a plain tube with single and double twisted tapes, combined with a semicircular cut with and without dimples, a perforated V-cut, and conical rings, using a TiO2-water nanofluid. Numerical simulations of tube flow and heat transfer were conducted. The nanofluid used in the simulations contains TiO2 nanoparticles at concentrations of 0.5% and 1.5% by volume. The nanofluid inlet temperature was set at 300 K, and boundary conditions were applied. The maximum heat transfer coefficient increases from plain tube to 88.2% and 71.42% at double twisted tape with perforated V-cut and semi-circular cut, respectively, with dimples in 0.5% and 1.5% TiO₂ concentrations. The maximum Nusselt number increased by 115.53% and 100.9% at double twisted tape with perforated v-cut and semi-circular cut with dimples compared to the plain tube in 0.5% and 1.5% TiO2 concentrations, respectively. The simple tube with a perforated V-cut and a conical ring insert exhibits a 94.44% higher friction factor at a 1.5% TiO2 concentration. The maximum thermal performance factor was found to be 2.04 for double twisted tapes at a 0.5% TiO2 concentration. Additionally, this study presents contour plots of the velocity distribution, pressure distribution, temperature distribution, and turbulent kinetic energy.
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- Shah RK, Sekulib DR. Handbook of heat transfer 3 - HEAT EXCHANGERS. 1998;3:17.1-17.169.
- Webb RL, Kim NY. Enhanced heat transfer. Taylor & 2005. ISBN: 1-59169-014-5
- Khargotra R, Kumar R, Nadda R et al. A review of different twisted tape configurations used in heat exchanger and their impact on thermal performance of the system. Heliyon 2023;9:e16390.
- Ajarostaghi SSM, Zaboli M, Javadi H et al. A Review of Recent Passive Heat Transfer Enhancement Methods. Energies (Basel) 2022;15, DOI: 10.3390/en15030986.
- Tejas Sonawane M, Prafulla Patil M, Chavhan MA et al. a Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement By Passive Methodss. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology 2016;3:1567–74.
- Wongcharee K, Chuwattanakul V, Chamoli S et al. Investigation of turbulent thermal-hydraulic behaviors of a heat exchanger tube with U-cut twisted-tape. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2025;67:105838.
- Li P, Liu Z, Liu W et al. Numerical study on heat transfer enhancement characteristics of tube inserted with centrally hollow narrow twisted tapes. Int J Heat Mass Transf 2015;88:481–91.
- Abed AM, Sh Majdi H, Hussein Z et al. Numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer enhancement in a horizontal pipe with P-TT and V-Cut twisted tape. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2018;12:749–58.
- Promvonge P, Eiamsa-ard S. Heat transfer behaviors in a tube with combined conical-ring and twisted-tape insert. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2007;34:849–59.
- Arani AAA, Amani J. Experimental investigation of diameter effect on heat transfer performance and pressure drop of TiO2–water nanofluid. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 2013;44:520–33.
- Kumar B, Patil AK, Jain S et al. Study of entropy generation in heat exchanger tube with multiple V cuts in perforated twisted tape insert. J Heat Transfer 2019;141:81801.
- Dagdevir T, Uyanik M, Ozceyhan V. The experimental thermal and hydraulic performance analyses for the location of perforations and dimples on the twisted tapes in twisted tape inserted tube. International Journal of Thermal Sciences 2021;167:107033.
- Eiamsa-ard S, Kiatkittipong K. Heat transfer enhancement by multiple twisted tape inserts and TiO2/water nanofluid. Appl Therm Eng 2014;70:896–924.
- Duangthongsuk W, Wongwises S. Heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop characteristics of TiO2–water nanofluid in a double-tube counter flow heat exchanger. Int J Heat Mass Transf 2009;52:2059–67.
- Eiamsa-Ard S, Kiatkittipong K, Jedsadaratanachai W. Heat transfer enhancement of TiO2/water nanofluid in a heat exchanger tube equipped with overlapped dual twisted-tapes. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 2015;18:336–50.
- Alias H, Ani MFC. Thermal characteristic of nanofluids containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. Chem Eng Trans 2017;56:1459–64.
- Abdel-Samad SM, Fahmy AA, Massoud AA et al. Experimental Investigation of TiO2-water Nanofluids Thermal Conductivity Synthesized by Sol-gel Technique. Curr Nanosci 2017;13:586–94.
- Ahmadlouydarab M, Javadi S, Darab FAA. Evaluation of Thermal Stability of TiO2 Applied on the Surface of a Ceramic Tile to Eliminate Methylene Blue Using Silica-based Doping Materials. Advanced Journal of Chemistry, Section A 2023;6:352–65.
- Ferreira-Neto EP, Ullah S, Martinez VP et al. Thermally stable SiO2@TiO2core@shell nanoparticles for application in photocatalytic self-cleaning ceramic tiles. Mater Adv 2021;2:2085–96.
- Yang L, Hu Y. Toward TiO(2) Nanofluids-Part 1: Preparation and Properties. Nanoscale Res Lett 2017;12:417.
- Hamid KA, Azmi WH, Mamat R et al. Effect of temperature on heat transfer coefficient of titanium dioxide in ethylene glycol-based nanofluid. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences 2015;8:1367–75.
- Mesh Types In CFD: A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.ansys.com/products/fluids
- V. Gnielinski. New equations for heat and mass transfer in turbulent pipe and channel flow. International Chemical Engineering 1976.
- Nakhchi ME, Esfahani JA. Performance intensification of turbulent flow through heat exchanger tube using double V-cut twisted tape inserts. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification 2019;141:107533.
- Petukhov BS. Heat Transfer and Friction in Turbulent Pipe Flow with Variable Physical Properties. Adv Heat Transf 1970;6:503–64.
- Moria H. Compound usage of twisted tape turbulator and air injection for heat transfer augmentation in a vertical straight tube with upward stream. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2021;25:100854.
- Bhuiya MMK, Chowdhury MSU, Saha M et al. Heat transfer and friction factor characteristics in turbulent flow through a tube fitted with perforated twisted tape inserts. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2013;46:49–57.
- Promvonge P, Eiamsa-ard S. Heat transfer behaviors in a tube with combined conical-ring and twisted-tape insert. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2007;34:849–59.
- Kumar Sahu M, Kumar Singh S. Double-Sided Semi-Circular-Wing Tape Inserts to Enhance Thermal Performance of a Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger. International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME) 2020;7:1–8.
References
Shah RK, Sekulib DR. Handbook of heat transfer 3 - HEAT EXCHANGERS. 1998;3:17.1-17.169.
Webb RL, Kim NY. Enhanced heat transfer. Taylor & 2005. ISBN: 1-59169-014-5
Khargotra R, Kumar R, Nadda R et al. A review of different twisted tape configurations used in heat exchanger and their impact on thermal performance of the system. Heliyon 2023;9:e16390.
Ajarostaghi SSM, Zaboli M, Javadi H et al. A Review of Recent Passive Heat Transfer Enhancement Methods. Energies (Basel) 2022;15, DOI: 10.3390/en15030986.
Tejas Sonawane M, Prafulla Patil M, Chavhan MA et al. a Review on Heat Transfer Enhancement By Passive Methodss. International Research Journal of Engineering and Technology 2016;3:1567–74.
Wongcharee K, Chuwattanakul V, Chamoli S et al. Investigation of turbulent thermal-hydraulic behaviors of a heat exchanger tube with U-cut twisted-tape. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2025;67:105838.
Li P, Liu Z, Liu W et al. Numerical study on heat transfer enhancement characteristics of tube inserted with centrally hollow narrow twisted tapes. Int J Heat Mass Transf 2015;88:481–91.
Abed AM, Sh Majdi H, Hussein Z et al. Numerical analysis of flow and heat transfer enhancement in a horizontal pipe with P-TT and V-Cut twisted tape. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2018;12:749–58.
Promvonge P, Eiamsa-ard S. Heat transfer behaviors in a tube with combined conical-ring and twisted-tape insert. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2007;34:849–59.
Arani AAA, Amani J. Experimental investigation of diameter effect on heat transfer performance and pressure drop of TiO2–water nanofluid. Exp Therm Fluid Sci 2013;44:520–33.
Kumar B, Patil AK, Jain S et al. Study of entropy generation in heat exchanger tube with multiple V cuts in perforated twisted tape insert. J Heat Transfer 2019;141:81801.
Dagdevir T, Uyanik M, Ozceyhan V. The experimental thermal and hydraulic performance analyses for the location of perforations and dimples on the twisted tapes in twisted tape inserted tube. International Journal of Thermal Sciences 2021;167:107033.
Eiamsa-ard S, Kiatkittipong K. Heat transfer enhancement by multiple twisted tape inserts and TiO2/water nanofluid. Appl Therm Eng 2014;70:896–924.
Duangthongsuk W, Wongwises S. Heat transfer enhancement and pressure drop characteristics of TiO2–water nanofluid in a double-tube counter flow heat exchanger. Int J Heat Mass Transf 2009;52:2059–67.
Eiamsa-Ard S, Kiatkittipong K, Jedsadaratanachai W. Heat transfer enhancement of TiO2/water nanofluid in a heat exchanger tube equipped with overlapped dual twisted-tapes. Engineering Science and Technology, an International Journal 2015;18:336–50.
Alias H, Ani MFC. Thermal characteristic of nanofluids containing titanium dioxide nanoparticles in ethylene glycol. Chem Eng Trans 2017;56:1459–64.
Abdel-Samad SM, Fahmy AA, Massoud AA et al. Experimental Investigation of TiO2-water Nanofluids Thermal Conductivity Synthesized by Sol-gel Technique. Curr Nanosci 2017;13:586–94.
Ahmadlouydarab M, Javadi S, Darab FAA. Evaluation of Thermal Stability of TiO2 Applied on the Surface of a Ceramic Tile to Eliminate Methylene Blue Using Silica-based Doping Materials. Advanced Journal of Chemistry, Section A 2023;6:352–65.
Ferreira-Neto EP, Ullah S, Martinez VP et al. Thermally stable SiO2@TiO2core@shell nanoparticles for application in photocatalytic self-cleaning ceramic tiles. Mater Adv 2021;2:2085–96.
Yang L, Hu Y. Toward TiO(2) Nanofluids-Part 1: Preparation and Properties. Nanoscale Res Lett 2017;12:417.
Hamid KA, Azmi WH, Mamat R et al. Effect of temperature on heat transfer coefficient of titanium dioxide in ethylene glycol-based nanofluid. Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Sciences 2015;8:1367–75.
Mesh Types In CFD: A Comprehensive Guide. https://www.ansys.com/products/fluids
V. Gnielinski. New equations for heat and mass transfer in turbulent pipe and channel flow. International Chemical Engineering 1976.
Nakhchi ME, Esfahani JA. Performance intensification of turbulent flow through heat exchanger tube using double V-cut twisted tape inserts. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification 2019;141:107533.
Petukhov BS. Heat Transfer and Friction in Turbulent Pipe Flow with Variable Physical Properties. Adv Heat Transf 1970;6:503–64.
Moria H. Compound usage of twisted tape turbulator and air injection for heat transfer augmentation in a vertical straight tube with upward stream. Case Studies in Thermal Engineering 2021;25:100854.
Bhuiya MMK, Chowdhury MSU, Saha M et al. Heat transfer and friction factor characteristics in turbulent flow through a tube fitted with perforated twisted tape inserts. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2013;46:49–57.
Promvonge P, Eiamsa-ard S. Heat transfer behaviors in a tube with combined conical-ring and twisted-tape insert. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer 2007;34:849–59.
Kumar Sahu M, Kumar Singh S. Double-Sided Semi-Circular-Wing Tape Inserts to Enhance Thermal Performance of a Double-Pipe Heat Exchanger. International Journal of Recent Research in Civil and Mechanical Engineering (IJRRCME) 2020;7:1–8.