Overview
The Helical Coil Heat Exchanger apparatus uses a coiled tube submerged in a shell-side fluid to study enhanced heat transfer due to centrifugal forces and Dean vortices induced by the curved geometry. Hot fluid flows inside the coil while cold fluid circulates in the shell, promoting higher heat transfer coefficients than straight-tube designs at the same flow rate. Students compare the performance of helical coil and straight tube exchangers, studying the effect of coil pitch, diameter ratio, and flow rate on the Nusselt number and pressure drop. The apparatus is relevant to compact boiler, cryogenic, and process industry applications.
Specifications
| Coil material | copper / stainless steel |
| Coil diameter | 100 to 150 mm |
| Shell diameter | 200 mm (approx.) |
| Hot fluid temperature | up to 80 degrees C |
| Flow rate | 1 to 8 LPM |
| Temperature sensors | thermocouples, 4 to 6 points |
| Pressure | atmospheric |
| Power supply | 220V AC, 50 Hz |