An Examination of Heat Transfer Dynamics in Pulsating Air Flow within Pipes: Implications for Automotive Exhaust Engines

The detailed understanding of heat transfer in the pulsating airflow in the pipe is critical to reducing heat losses in the engine exhaust stream and improving catalyst performance. In the present investigation, we have scrutinized the impact of pulsation frequencies ranging from 0-90 Hz on the flow velocity field and the consequent heat transfer through a horizontal pipe wall. The Nusselt numbers were evaluated at three distinct cross-sectional points moving from upstream to downstream, by systematically modulating the frequency. Temporal variations in the velocity field and temperature were captured utilizing particle image velocimetry (PIV) and dual-thermocouple probes, respectively. Intriguingly, while the Nusselt number for steady flow at 0 Hz closely adhered to Gnielinski’s equation, the pulsating flow demonstrated a peak between 25-35 Hz, a pattern not predicted by the prevailing quasi-steady-state theory. The observed frequency response of turbulence was found to be congruous with the Nusselt number, indicating that the heightened heat transfer at frequencies of 25-35 Hz could be attributed to the enhanced turbulence and the temperature gradient between the fluid and the wall surface during the deceleration phase in the hysteresis of turbulence in the pulsating flow. The unique frequency characteristics of heat transfer that were uncovered in this study, with respect to both flow velocity and temperature, offer valuable insights for devising strategies to mitigate heat loss during ignition and idling. Furthermore, these findings provide robust benchmarks for validating numerical simulations of pulsating flows in real-life automotive engines.