Internal Flow Analysis and Thermal Performance Evaluation in a Helical Tube for Agro-Industrial Biomass Drying Applications for Pellet Production Using Parabolic Solar Mirrors

Cerron Velandres R.A.; Chumbipuma Cruz C.B.; Nieves Acosta A.K.; Ronceros Rivas J.R.; Carrizales Navarro J.A. · International Conference on Electrical, Computer, Communications and Mechatronics Engineering, ICECCME 2025 (2025) · DOI: 10.1109/iceccme64568.2025.11277797

Resumen

This study presents the design and analysis of the internal flow of a helically coiled copper tube integrated into a biomass drying system powered by a parabolic solar concentrator. The system directs heat toward a helical tube that transfers hot air to a cylindrical chamber; the tangential fluid inlet generates a rotational flow that ensures uniform drying. The system geometry favors the development of a secondary flow and greater heat transfer by convection. The main objective is to characterize the internal flow behavior, quantify the air temperature increase, determine pressure losses, and validate the theoretical model through CFD simulations in software ANSYS Fluent. The analytical formulations include the estimation of Reynolds, Prandtl, and Nusselt numbers, as well as convective heat transfer coefficients. In addition, pressure drop and velocity variation between inlet and outlet were determined using friction factor correlations for spiral geometries. The results were validated in ANSYS Fluent, using turbulence models and mesh refinement near the walls. The simulated temperature fields and flow patterns showed a great agreement with the analytical model, confirming the thermal efficiency of the tube geometry under turbulent conditions. This confirms the feasibility of the system for thermal applications powered by energy.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas