Oscillating Heat Transfer Correlations for Spiral-Coil Thermoacoustic Heat Exchangers

Heat exchangers are the important parts in thermoacoustic refrigerators. Types and configurations of the heat exchangers affect flow behaviors through stacks, and heat transfer behaviors between working fluids and the heat exchangers. Steady-flow heat transfer correlations to design a heat exchanger are not suitable for the thermoacoustic refrigerators due to their oscillatory flow conditions in resonator tubes. In this paper, a heat transfer correlation for a spiral-coil heat exchanger is presented. The results from the experimental study were used to develop an empirical equation between the Colburn-j factor, the Prandtl number, and the Reynolds number to correlate the oscillating heat transfer coefficient at the spiral-coil heat exchangers. The results showed that using steady-flow heat transfer correlations for analyses and design of the heat exchanger could result in distinguished errors. The heat transfer correlations developed for oscillatory flows on fin heat exchangers are also not suitable to predict heat transfer coefficients for spiral-coil heat exchanger due to difference in flow behaviors on the heat transfer surface. For oscillatory flows, the heat transfer coefficients can be improved by using curved-liked surface such as spiral coil instead of straightlike surface such as fin coil. The relationships between the oscillating heat transfer coefficients at the heat exchangers, drive ratios, and operating frequencies are also presented. Higher drive ratios and operating frequency result in greater heat transfer coefficients.