LAUSR

Abstract Heat transfer with evaporation in a partially-filled, rotating pipe with water flowing through it is experimentally investigated. The test section is a 32.8 mm ID, 1000 mm long stainless steel pipe with a wall thickness of 1.1 mm. The outer wall temperature distribution is captured using a thermal camera. Uniform wall heat flux (3348–21200 W/m2), water volume flow rate (100–400 ml/min), rotation rate (10–300 RPM) and pipe inclination angle (0°–6°) are varied to study their influence on the heat transfer characteristics of a rotary evaporator. Location of the onset of nucleate boiling is used to study the effect of various parameters on the rotary evaporator operation. With the increase in the pipe inclination angle and wall heat flux, the onset of nucleate boiling is achieved closer to the inlet of the rotary evaporator. Increasing liquid flow rate delays the onset of nucleate boiling for given wall heat flux and inclination angle. Rotation rate has no significant effect on the rotary evaporator performance in the subcooled boiling region. Local heat transfer coefficient along the length of the partially filled rotating test section is reported.