Knowledge Bank

Drag reducing additives have great potential for many different applications today. When these compounds are added to a fluid, they decrease turbulent fluctuations as well as the energy requirements when pumping the solution. This is especially beneficial in an industrial environment where companies are constantly looking for new cost saving measures to implement. The drawback of known drag reducing solutions is that they impede the ability of the solution to transfer heat. This is an undesirable effect if heat exchangers are to be used. To test methods of increasing heat transfer, a large recirculating loop with a countercurrent shell and tube heat exchanger was used. A pulsating pump was placed before the inlet to the heat exchanger. Temperature measurements were taken with varying amounts and frequencies of pulsation in order to enhance the heat transfer in the heat exchanger.