Assessment of improving heat exchanger thermal performance through implementation of swirling flow technology

Various engineering applications, such as heat exchangers, air conditioning systems, chemical reactors, and refrigeration systems, make use of enhanced heat transfer surfaces. Numerous methods have been explored to improve heat transfer rates and reduce the size and cost of equipment involved, particularly in heat exchangers. This review comprehensively assesses multiple continuous and discrete swirl-inducing techniques for enhancing heat transfer, achieved through geometry alterations or flow deflectors. The study showed that all angles of the swirl-inducing device effectively promoted fluid mixing, reduced thermal boundary layers, and created turbulent eddies due to swirl flows and vortices. While solid swirl flows may impede local heat transfer performance by trapping low-velocity heated fluids within thermal boundary layers, as these flows move downstream, they lead to improved fluid mixing, enhancing heat transport over large areas. This paper explores the application of other techniques for specific work environments.