CFD modeling of heat transfer in turbulent pipe flows

Twelve versions of low Reynolds number k-e and two low Reynolds number Reynolds stress turbulence models for heat transfer were analyzed comparatively. Predictions of the mean axial temperature, the radial and axial turbulent heat fluxes, and the effect of Prandtl number on Nusselt number were compared with the experimental data. The model by Lai and So from the k-e group and Lai and So from the Reynolds stress group had the best overall predictive ability for heat transfer in turbulent pipe flow. The Lai and So model was attributed to its success in the predictions of flow parameters such as mean axial velocity, turbulent kinetic energy, eddy diffusivity, and the overall energy dissipation rate. The k-e models performed relatively better than the Reynolds stress models for predicting the mean axial temperature and the Nusselt number. This qualitative and quantitative study found the need for more sophisticated near-wall experimental measurements and the accuracy of the dissipation (of turbulent energy) and the pressure-scrambling models.