Heat transfer and formation of turbulence in an internal swirling fluid flow at low Reynolds numbers

Results of investigations of the structure of swirling fluid flow in a channel, and also of the parameters of turbulence of the flow and heat transfer in it at low Reynolds numbers, have been presented. It has been established that a moderate swirl of the flow at the channel wall under the action of a centrifugal force gives rise to turbulent disturbances in this flow region and that the formation of turbulent pulsations of the fluid in the vicinity of the channel axis is hindered by the initiation of reverse flows and by the conservatism of the action of the centrifugal force on the parameters of turbulence of the fluid. It has been shown that heat transfer in the swirling fluid flow depends on the integral intensity of the swirl and on the mode of organization of the rotation of the fluid. It has been established that the heat transfer of the flow with a constant swirl angle is higher than that of the flow swirled by the law of revolution of a rigid body. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York.